By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed the bail application filed by five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which over 40 worshippers were killed and more than 100 injured.
In his ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the Federal Government had presented compelling evidence showing that the defendants posed a high risk of jumping bail due to their alleged links with foreign fighters.
The judge agreed with the prosecution that the suspects could interfere with the trial, noting that their counterarguments failed to disprove the government’s claims.
He further observed that the defendants improperly filed a joint affidavit instead of separate bail applications, describing the move as “incompetent.”
Justice Nwite cited Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows courts to deny bail where there is reasonable ground to believe a defendant may commit another offence, evade trial, or compromise justice.
He emphasized that the severity of the charges, which carry capital punishment if proven, coupled with the possibility of witness intimidation, weighed heavily against granting bail. The judge also noted that accomplices of the suspects remain at large and could attempt to frustrate proceedings.
While acknowledging that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Justice Nwite stressed that justice must balance the rights of the defendants, the prosecution, and society.
“I am of the view that the interest of justice will be best served by giving this matter accelerated hearing. Consequently, this application is hereby refused,” he ruled, adjourning the trial until October 16.
Earlier, the defense counsel Abdullahi Muhammad, had urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the accused men had no prior criminal records, would not jump bail, and were willing to provide credible sureties,maintaining that continued detention for nearly three years without bail was unjust.
Our correspondent reports that the defendants,Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47),were arraigned on August 11,2025 on a nine-count terrorism charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025).
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
