The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a bail application filed by five men accused of belonging to the Al-Shabaab terror network and of carrying out the June 5, 2022 assault on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The attack left more than 40 worshippers dead and over 100 others injured.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, said on Wednesday that the seriousness of the terrorism charges made the defendants ineligible for bail. He ruled that releasing them would pose a serious security risk and could obstruct justice.
The suspects — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — had, through their lawyer Abdullahi Ibrahim, filed a bail request dated 11 August 2025 and argued it on 19 August. Counsel claimed the accused had reliable sureties ready to stand for them.
The Department of State Services (DSS), represented by Dr. Callistus Eze, opposed the application, warning that the gravity of the charges and the evidence available could lead the defendants to flee. The DSS also argued that granting bail might intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial.
Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution, holding that the defendants failed to present verifiable reasons or credible sureties for their release. He described the potential granting of bail as a “judicial risk.”
He also pointed out defects in the bail application: the motion paper did not list each defendant’s name separately, and the supporting affidavit was filed jointly instead of individually, contrary to legal requirements.
The five accused are facing multiple charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. These include alleged membership of Al-Shabaab’s Kogi State cell, attending planning meetings for the Owo church attack, unlawful possession of improvised explosive devices and AK-47 rifles, and detonating explosives at the church.
The Owo massacre shocked the country and drew widespread local and international condemnation, raising fears of extremist activity beyond Nigeria’s North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have been most active.
Justice Nwite ordered the suspects to remain in DSS custody and directed an accelerated hearing of the case, setting 19 October 2025 for the trial to commence.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) welcomed the decision, saying the victims deserve justice. In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that “anything less than the harshest penalties for these crimes against humanity would be unacceptable.” It also cited statistics showing that Boko Haram and allied groups have caused tens of thousands of deaths between 2011 and 2023, with Borno State suffering the highest toll.
