The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that five suspects charged with the terrorist attack on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order following the arraignment of the alleged terrorists.
The accused are Idris Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the federal government.
NAIJAONPOINT recalls that the terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 22 worshippers, while more than 100 others sustained injuries.
At Monday’s hearing, Mr. Calistus Eze, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that the case was scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants.
Eze, however, stated that since the charge was filed during the vacation, a summons ex-parte had been filed alongside.
Moving the application, he said the summons ex-parte was dated and filed on July 28 and prayed the court for an order allowing the charge to be taken within the vacation period.
Justice Nwite granted the prayer in a short ruling.
The charges were then read to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
The prosecuting lawyer sought a trial date and urged the court to remand the suspects in Department of State Services (DSS) custody, a request not opposed by the defence lawyer, Mr. Abdullahi Muhammad.
Muhammad, however, urged the court to grant the defendants access to their relatives and lawyers, citing their prolonged detention since 2022 and lack of access to them.
In response, the prosecuting counsel stated that, “as a matter of practice and procedure, defendants are permitted to have access to their lawyers and relatives upon receipt of a written request specifying the date and time.”
The lawyer added that since the trial had also commenced, “the defendants would be afforded time and facility needed to defend themselves.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the case until August 19 for commencement of trial and ordered the accused to be remanded in DSS custody.
This newspaper reports that the accused and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime in 2021, joined and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group.
They were accused of operating their cell in Kogi State “contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In count two, they were alleged to have, on May 30, 2022; June 3, 2022; and June 4, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA in Kogi and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings where they agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which they carried out on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The offence is said to be “contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.”
The defendants were alleged to have, on June 5, 2022, “with intent to cause death, detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede.”
They were also alleged to have, on June 5, 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, “with intent to further their religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter.”
The offence is said to be “contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” among others.