Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja is currently delivering judgment in the trial of five defendants linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The attack, which occurred during a Sunday mass, resulted in the deaths of about 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
Court Proceedings
Justice Nwite began reading his written judgment at approximately 9:18 a.m., speaking in a firm and loud voice. He intermittently raised his head sharply as he read to a packed courtroom. The five defendants on trial are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They stood in the dock, fixing their gaze on the judge as proceedings unfolded. The oldest defendant wore a white gown and a white soft rounded cap, folding his arms across his chest and remaining still.
At intervals, some defendants turned toward the courtroom audience, as if pleading for help, before shifting their gaze back to the judge. They later sat in the dock after standing for a long time. Lawyers for both the prosecution and defense remained seated in silence, following the proceedings.
Judgment Details
The judge began by reading out the nine amended counts filed against the five defendants. He noted that 11 prosecution witnesses testified in the case, identified as SSSA to SSK. He also reviewed the exhibits and documents admitted as evidence. At 10:38 a.m., while noting witness testimonies, he announced that two defendants were "pressed" and paused the judgment to allow them to relieve themselves. At about 10:43 a.m., the judge rose and left the courtroom, returning at 10:45 a.m. to continue reading the judgment.
Backstory
Justice Nwite had reserved judgment on May 26 after lawyers for the prosecution and defense presented their final submissions. The court later fixed Wednesday for the judgment. During final addresses, prosecution lawyer Ayodeji Adedipe urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment of death, citing the gravity of the alleged offense. Defense lawyer Abdullahi Mohammad, however, asked the court to discharge and acquit his clients, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case.
The Attack
On June 5, 2022, gunmen stormed St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo during Pentecost Mass, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others. The attack occurred amid worsening insecurity in Nigeria. For over a decade, the northeastern part of the country has been gripped by insurgency, with splinter groups of terrorists believed to have spread to the North-west and North-central regions, where armed criminals known as bandits operate. Kogi State in the North-central shares borders with Ondo State, where the massacre took place. Observers believe the attack signaled a gradual spread of terrorist activities southward.
