Court denies Owo church attackers bail

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the bail application filed by the five suspected terrorists who attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in the Owo area of Ondo State on June 5, 2022.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, held that the federal government had been able to establish compelling evidence against the defendants that they might jump bail, considering their link with foreign fighters.

Justice Nwite also agreed with the prosecution that the suspects might interfere with the trial if the application was granted, since all the weighty averments in its counter-affidavit were not controverted by the defendants.

The judge said the facts not controverted are believed to be true.

He added that though the charge was a joint one against the five suspected terrorists, each of the defendants ought to have filed separate bail applications and affidavits, stating why each of them should be granted bail.

“However, they filed what appeared like a joint affidavit. This application is incompetent,” Justice Nwite said.

DSS opposes bail for Owo church massacre suspects

The judge said Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, provides that a defendant can be admitted to bail “except where there is a reasonable ground that he will commit another offence, jump trial, interfere in the case, attempt to conceal evidence, undermine the purpose of criminal justice administration, etc.”

According to him, the court has also, over the years, established principles in the application for bail.

Justice Nwite said these include the nature of the charge, the severity of the evidence, the severity or punishment in the event of conviction, the probability that the defendant may not submit himself for trial and may interfere with the case, among others.

The judge added that the federal government, in its argument, submitted that the offences with which the suspects were being charged were serious offences with capital punishment if convicted.

The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter until October 16 for trial.

The suspected terrorists include 25-year-old Idris Omeiza, 20-year-old Al Qasim Idris, 26-year-old Jamiu Abdulmalik, 25-year-old Abdulhaleem Idris, and 47-year-old Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

They were arraigned on August 11 in a nine-count terrorism charge.

The Star