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Justice Emeka Nwite of the High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the trial of five men charged by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The judge set a date for the judgment, which will be communicated to all parties after hearing the prosecution and defence counsel’s last arguments.
Justice Nwite reminded the lawyers that the court will tell them when the judgment is ready, and that the notice may arrive within 24 hours.
Adedipe argued that the prosecution had successfully established its case through detailed investigations and substantial evidence, stressing that security agencies had worked extensively to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on worshippers in Nigeria’s history.
Defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit the defendants, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
Gunmen killed more than 40 people and injured several others during the attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on June 5, 2022.
The incident triggered nationwide condemnation, with many Nigerians demanding justice for the victims and the arrest of those responsible.
