DSS Seeks Capital Punishment as Court Reserves Judgment in Owo Terror Attack Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022. The Department of State Services (DSS) has charged Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar with nine counts of terrorism.

Justice Emeka Nwite announced the reservation of judgment after the prosecution and defense teams presented their final arguments. The court will communicate a date for the judgment to the involved parties, potentially within 24 hours. During the proceedings, the prosecution's lawyer, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, implored the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum penalty of death, emphasizing the gravity of the alleged crime. Conversely, the defense lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, argued for the discharge and acquittal of his clients, asserting that the prosecution failed to establish its case.

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the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death in view of the enormity of the crime they allegedly committed.

The attack tragically claimed the lives of 41 worshippers and left over 140 others injured. The DSS presented 11 witnesses during the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, to substantiate the charges. The court had previously admitted the defendants' confessional statements after a trial-within-a-trial confirmed they were given voluntarily. The DSS had initially requested an expedited hearing, which the court granted.

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the prosecution was unable to establish its case against them.