- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Wednesday rejected the bail application of five suspects accused of orchestrating the bombing of a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS) had on the 11th of August, 2025, arraigned the five men before Justice Emeka Nwite over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State.
The suspected assailants said to members and Al-Shabaab terrorist group and identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar were arraigned over the attack, which claimed over 40 lives and left over 100 individuals injured.
During the hearing of the case, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled out the bail application, citing the capital nature of the terrorism charges.
Prior to the judge’s verdict, the prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Eze, had in his argument said that the men posed a significant flight risk due to the severity of the charges. The judge noted that the defense lawyers did not challenge these claims.
Nwite also maintained that the suspects, being members of a “strong terrorist organization”, may intimidate witnesses, influence the trial, or flee if released.
Justice Nwite upheld the arguments of the DSS, which asserted that the evidence against the suspects is substantial.