The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the deadly attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left dozens of worshippers dead during a service on June 5, 2022.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite found Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris guilty of terrorism-related offences filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government.
The court held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing the defendants’ direct participation in the attack that killed more than 40 people and injured over 100 others.
However, the judge discharged and acquitted a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient to link him to the incident.
According to the court, the convicted men were members of an Al-Shabaab-linked terrorist cell operating in Kogi State and took part in planning and executing the assault on the church during a Pentecost service.
The court heard that the attackers stormed the church while worship was ongoing, trapping congregants and unleashing violence that led to mass casualties. Prosecutors said the assailants used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles during the attack.
To prove its case, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits, including confessional statements, digital forensic reports, and electronic evidence allegedly recovered during the investigation.
A surviving Catholic priest also testified, narrating how multiple explosions were detonated inside the church, causing panic and heavy loss of life among worshippers.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, held that the oral and documentary evidence presented by the prosecution was sufficient to establish the guilt of the four defendants on all counts, leading to their conviction and sentencing.
