Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday refused a bail application filed by five men accused of being members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and of carrying out the deadly attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
On June 5, 2022, during Pentecost Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, gunmen launched an attack, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
On August 11, 2025, five suspects were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on nine terrorism charges. The men were alleged to belong to the Al Shabaab terrorist group and accused of plotting additional attacks. They all pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, dismissed the application, holding that the terrorism charges against the defendants were capital offences and that releasing them on bail would pose a significant security risk.
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — had, through their lawyer, Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, filed a bail application dated August 11, 2025 and argued on August 19.
Their counsel argued that the defendants had secured “reliable and responsible sureties” to stand for them if granted bail.
But the plaintiff – the Department of State Services, represented by Dr Callistus Eze, opposed the application, warning that the men might abscond due to the gravity of the charges and the strength of evidence against them.
DSS also argued that admitting them to bail could intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial.
Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, ruling that the defendants had failed to provide cogent and verifiable reasons for their release and had not presented credible sureties. He added that granting them bail would amount to “judicial risk”.
The judge also noted procedural defects in the bail application, pointing out that the names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law. In addition, the application was supported by a joint two-paragraph affidavit, contrary to the requirement that each defendant must provide a separate affidavit.
The five accused are facing multiple terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including Membership of Al-Shabab’s Kogi State cell, participation in meetings where the Owo church attack was planned.
Possession of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles, detonating explosives at St Francis Catholic Church in June. 5, 2022, resulting in the deaths of more than 40 people and injuries to over 100 others.
The horrific attack at St Francis Catholic Church shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation both locally and internationally. It was one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in Nigeria in recent years, raising concerns about the spread of extremist networks beyond the North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have been most active.
Justice Nwite ordered that the accused remain in DSS custody and granted an accelerated hearing of the case, fixing October 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
