Court Sentences Four Men to Death for Owo Church Attack

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. This attack resulted in the deaths of over 40 worshippers and injured about 141 others.

The four convicted men are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25. They faced charges of terrorism, including being part of a terrorist group called "Al-Shabaab" that operates in Kogi and Ondo states. They were accused of attending meetings to plan the attack, taking hostages, and using explosives that caused death and serious injuries.

Judge Emeka Nwite delivered the sentence after finding the men guilty on nine terrorism-related charges. This judgement came after a trial that lasted about nine months, starting in August 2022. The judge also acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, who is the oldest among those charged.

The attack occurred on 5 June 2022 during a Sunday mass at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo. Armed men opened fire and detonated explosives, killing at least 41 worshippers and injuring over 140 others. The tragic event shocked the nation and drew condemnation from various groups.

The defendants were arraigned in August 2022, nearly three years after the attack. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, filed terrorism charges against them. Prosecutors claimed the suspects were part of an Al Shabaab cell in Kogi State and planned the church attack as part of a violent religious agenda. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

The trial began formally in December 2022. The prosecution called its first witness, a Catholic priest who led the mass during the attack. Many witnesses testified under a court-approved protection scheme, using coded identities.

Survivors, church members, and security agents testified about the attack. Some witnesses described how the gunmen entered the church and shot at worshippers trying to escape. Others spoke about the aftermath and efforts to catch the attackers.

One witness identified two of the defendants as attackers inside the church. Another witness, who testified from a wheelchair, shared that she lost both legs and one eye from the bomb blast.

The prosecution closed its case after calling 11 witnesses. The last witness, a digital forensic expert from the SSS, explained how phone tracking helped trace and arrest the suspects.

During the trial, the defence challenged the admissibility of the defendants' confessions, claiming they were coerced. However, Judge Nwite accepted the confessions as valid evidence after considering the defence's objections.

On 4 March 2023, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza testified in court. He claimed he was arrested by SSS operatives at his home in Kogi State on 1 August 2022. He alleged that they tortured him until he fainted and forced him to sign statements. He insisted he had no involvement in the attack.

Another defendant, Abdulmalik, also denied involvement, saying he was arrested while traveling from Ondo to Kogi State. He echoed claims of torture and insisted he was innocent.

In his judgement, Judge Nwite stated that the evidence showed the four men belonged to Al-Shabaab. He noted that the prosecution proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The judge confirmed that meetings to plan the attack took place on 30 May, 1 June, and 4 June 2022 at a school and a mosque in Kogi State.

The judge said the evidence was strong and consistent. He ruled that the four men were guilty of conspiracy and aiding terrorism. The evidence showed they communicated before the attack.

The judge also addressed counts related to hostage-taking and possession of dangerous weapons. He reviewed the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and noted that over 40 worshippers died and many were injured during the church service.

The prosecution claimed that Abubakar acted as a financial channel for the group. However, the judge found that the prosecution did not prove the terrorism financing charges against him.

After the judgement, prosecution lawyers praised the federal government for the convictions. They expressed that justice was served for the victims and their families. The fifth defendant, Abubakar, felt relieved after being acquitted and encouraged young people to stay away from terrorism.

On the other hand, the defence lawyer argued that the convicted men were innocent and planned to review the judgement. The four men maintained their innocence and said they were wrongly convicted. The attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church raised concerns about the spread of violent extremism in southern Nigeria, prompting investigations that led to the apprehension of the suspects.