DSS Requests Capital Punishment While Court Holds Judgment in Owo Terror Attack Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja reserved judgment on Tuesday in the trial of five men accused of participating in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The Department of State Services (DSS) charged Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar with nine counts of terrorism.

Justice Emeka Nwite announced the decision after the prosecution and defence lawyers submitted their final written arguments.

He said the judgment would be released on a date to be communicated to the parties.

The judge informed the lawyers that they would receive notice from the court once the judgment was ready, suggesting the notice could arrive within 24 hours.

In his closing submission, the prosecution lawyer Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death, citing the enormity of the alleged crime.

Defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad requested the court to discharge and acquit his clients, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish its case.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 41 worshippers were killed in the terror attack, while more than 140 others sustained injuries.

During the trial that began on August 1, 2025, the DSS called 11 witnesses to support its allegations against the defendants.

The trial court admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after concluding an in‑trial hearing to confirm that the statements were voluntarily given.

At the start of the trial, the DSS requested an accelerated hearing, which the court granted. (NAN)