By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant bail to five men accused of carrying out the deadly terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of over 40 worshippers and left more than 100 injured.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite dismissed the bail application filed by the defendants—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—describing the terrorism charges against them as capital offences.
The judge ruled that the defendants are accused of being members of the Al-Shabab terrorist group with a cell operating in Kogi State. He further held that there is a real and credible risk they may intimidate witnesses, interfere with the investigation, or flee if released on bail.
Justice Nwite upheld the arguments presented by the Department of State Services (DSS), which strongly opposed the bail on grounds of national security and the weight of the evidence against the accused. The DSS had also claimed that the defendants failed to provide reliable sureties and did not dispute the possibility of absconding if granted bail.
In addition to these considerations, the court found procedural faults in the bail application. Justice Nwite noted that the motion paper failed to individually list the names of the defendants and was supported by a joint affidavit, contrary to legal requirements mandating separate affidavits for each applicant.
Ruling that the defendants failed to provide “cogent and verifiable reasons” to warrant bail, the judge dismissed the application and ordered accelerated hearing of the case, fixing October 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
The bail motion, dated August 11 and argued on August 19 by defence counsel Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, claimed the defendants had assembled reliable sureties. The claim was, however, vehemently challenged by DSS counsel, Dr. Callistus Eze.
The defendants face multiple terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including:
▪︎Membership of a proscribed terrorist group (Al-Shabab).
▪︎Conspiracy and planning of the Owo church attack at multiple meetings in Kogi and Ondo States.
▪︎The June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, during which worshippers were held hostage, over 40 people killed, and more than 100 others severely injured using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles.
▪︎Possession of weapons and IEDs for the purpose of carrying out terrorist acts.
▪︎Intentional detonation of IEDs causing mass casualties and injuries.
Some of the victims named in the charges include Ajanaku John, Onuoha Deborah, Onileke Esther, John Bosede, and dozens of others who suffered grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution alleges that the attack was carried out with the intent of advancing a religious ideology and causing maximum terror among civilians.
The case, which shocked the nation and drew international condemnation, is one of the most high-profile terrorism trials in recent years. The court’s decision to deny bail signals a firm stance against terrorism and a commitment to ensuring justice for the victims of the Owo massacre.
