An Abuja Federal High Court has sentenced four terrorists convicted for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, to death by hanging.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding the defendants guilty on all nine counts contained in the terrorism charge filed against them.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had accused the convicts of belonging to foreign terrorist organisations and participating in the deadly attack on the church, which claimed the lives of 43 worshippers.
Those sentenced to death are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against the four defendants beyond reasonable doubt and consequently sentenced them to death by hanging.
However, a fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was discharged and acquitted of all charges.
The Owo church attack, one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history, occurred during a Sunday service at Saint Francis Catholic Church and left dozens dead and many others injured, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity.
With Wednesday’s judgment, the court brought to a close a major terrorism trial arising from the massacre that shocked the country and drew international condemnation.
