From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will, on Wednesday, deliver judgement in the trial of five suspects accused by the Federal Government of involvement in the 2022 massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge in the matter, is expected to determine the fate of the defendants after the conclusion of legal arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
The accused persons include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
The Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the case, had urged the court to impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law should the defendants be found guilty.
At the last adjourned hearing, counsel to the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe, argued that evidence presented before the court had sufficiently established the involvement of the defendants in the deadly attack. He maintained that the prosecution had successfully linked the suspects to the incident and insisted that the nature of the offence warrants severe punishment, including the death sentence.
However, counsel for the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, urged the court to discharge and acquit his clients, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case stems from one of Nigeria’s most devastating attacks on a place of worship in recent history.
On Sunday, June 5, 2022, armed assailants invaded St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo during Sunday Mass and opened fire on worshippers, killing more than 40 people and leaving several others injured.
