The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that five suspects accused of the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after their arraignment on Monday.
The defendants — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47)— pleaded not guilty to all charges filed by the federal government.
The Owo church attack left about 22 worshippers dead and over 100 others injured. Prosecuting counsel Calistus Eze told the court that the charges, filed during the vacation period, were accompanied by a summons ex-parte requesting that they be taken within the break. Justice Nwite granted the application.
Following the pleas, the prosecution requested that the suspects remain in DSS custody until trial, a move not opposed by the defence. Defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad, however, urged the court to allow the defendants access to their lawyers and relatives, noting their detention since 2022.
Eze responded that such access would be granted upon written request, and that the defendants would have the facilities needed to prepare their defence.The case was adjourned to August 19 for trial.
The suspects, along with others still at large, are alleged to have joined the Al Shabab terrorist group in 2021, operating a cell in Kogi State. They are also accused of attending meetings in late May and early June 2022 in Kogi and Ondo States, where they planned the deadly Owo attack. The charges are under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
