Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court, Abuja has ordered that five suspects charged with terrorist attack on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
The federal government is prosecuting Idris Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47 on terrorism attack.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The terror attack which happened on Sunday, June 5, 2022, resulted in the death of about 22 worshippers, while more than 100 others sustained injuries.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Calistus Eze, asked for trial date and urged the court to remand the suspects in DSS custody, a request not opposed by the defence lawyer, Mr. Abdullahi Muhammad.
Muhammad, however, urged the court to grant the defendants access to their relatives and lawyers, citing their prolonged detention since 2022 and lack of access to them.
In response, the prosecuting counsel stated that, “as a matter of practice and procedure, defendants are permitted to have access to their lawyers and relatives upon receipt of a written request specifying the date and time.”
He said that since the trial had also commenced, “the defendants would be afforded time and facility needed to defend themselves.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until August 19 for commencement of trial and ordered the accused to be remanded in DSS custody.
The accused and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime in 2021, joined and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group.
They were accused of operating their cell in Kogi State “contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In count two, they were alleged to have, on May 30, 2022; June 3, 2022; and June 4, 2022, at the Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA in Kogi and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings where they agreed to and planned the terrorist attack, which they carried out on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State
The offence is said to be “contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.”
The defendants were alleged to have, on June 5, 2022, “with intent to cause death, detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede.”
They were also alleged to have, on June 5, 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, “with intent to further their religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter.”
The offence is said to be “contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” among others.
