The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has delivered a final judgment in the high-profile trial of five suspected terrorists accused of the brutal attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The horrific incident, which occurred on June 5, 2022, tragically claimed the lives of at least 41 worshippers, with later reports indicating 43 fatalities, and left 69 others injured. The attackers had reportedly thrown explosives towards the altar, causing chaos and significant casualties among the congregation.

The five accused persons, identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). They were subsequently charged to court on a nine-count terrorism charge. The DSS accused the defendants of being alleged members of foreign terror groups, specifically the Al Shabab terrorist group with cells in Kogi State, and were later linked with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). They were implicated in planning and executing the attack, with allegations of attending meetings between May 30 and June 4, 2022, to conspire for the assault.

The trial commenced on August 1, 2025, during which the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ayodeji Adedipe, called 11 witnesses to establish the defendants’ involvement. The court admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after a trial-within-trial confirmed their voluntary nature. While the accused denied any involvement, they testified on their own behalf but chose not to call any other witnesses. The prosecution urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the death penalty due to the severity of their actions, whereas the defense counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, argued for their discharge and acquittal, asserting that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Emeka Nwite had initially reserved judgment on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, after both prosecution and defense lawyers adopted their final written addresses. The court later fixed Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for the final judgment and sentencing, notifying all parties involved of the date.

In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted four out of the five accused persons. The four individuals found guilty were Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris. However, the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was discharged and acquitted, as the prosecution could not sufficiently prove the charges against him.

Following their conviction, Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the four terrorists guilty on the entire nine counts of the charge and handed down the maximum sentence. They were sentenced to death by hanging. The charges, including possession of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles, causing death and grievous bodily harm, and conspiracy to commit terrorism, are all punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with penalties ranging from death to life imprisonment.

Throughout the legal proceedings, particularly during the judgment delivery, security around the Federal High Court was significantly tightened. The accused were brought into the courtroom under heavy protection by personnel from the DSS, Civil Defense, and police, with strict security checks conducted on all persons entering the court premises to prevent any breaches.