• Defendants plead not guilty to terrorism charge.
• Defence lawyer believes suspects “will be discharged and acquitted“.
• Court adjourns until August 19 for trial.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Mon, August 11, arraigned five suspected terrorists allegedly involved in the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Ondo State. The government reportedly accused the suspects of allegedly belonging to a local cell of the Al Shabab terror group and carrying out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.

According to recent reports, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on their alleged involvement in the terror attack which claimed over 40 lives and left over 100 individuals injured.

The nine-count terrorism charge marked ‘FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025’ reportedly included the following counts:

1. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
2. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5™ June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
3. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your 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 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.
4. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.
5. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
6. That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church , Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including: Onuchukwu Happiness, Ogungbade Vivan and Nnakwe Paschaline Ugochinyerem and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(a)(i) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendants reportedly pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them by an official of the court. Defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad, prayed the court to order access to their families and lawyers, while prosecuting lawyer Calistus Eze urged the court to order that they be remanded in the custody of the DSS pending trial.

Justice Emeka Nwite, reportedly ordered that the accused be remanded in the custody of the DSS and that the defendants should be granted access to their families and lawyers. The court then adjourned until August 19 for the commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, the defence lawyer — while answering questions from the press at the end of the court session —stated that he believed that the defendants “will be discharged and acquitted”.

Sources:

Channels Television. DSS Arraigns Five Over Bombing Attack On Catholic Church in Owo. YouTube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8_Ci958Z4XQ&si=MOyRfro5q8Wtcq30

The Conclave. FG arraigns five suspects on June 2022 attack on Owo Catholic Church. https://www.theconclaveng.com/fg-arraigns-five-suspects-on-june-2022-attack-on-owo-catholic-church

SYMFONI. Suspected Mass Shooters in Catholic Church ‘Owo Massacre’ May Be Acquitted — Defence Lawyer Vows. Youtube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7-XvJjs0JsQ&si=wwsAJ5Qx7Syy9SS0