Federal High Court Sentences Four Terror Convicts to Death Over Owo Church Massacre ‎

Federal High Court Sentences Four Terror Convicts to Death Over Owo Church Massacre
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‎By Jackson Mary Ozioma
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‎E-ISSN: 2354-4481
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‎The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
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‎Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris on a nine-count terrorism charge brought before the court by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government.
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‎The court, however, discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, after ruling that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence linking him to the attack.
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‎In his judgment, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the four convicted persons beyond a reasonable doubt. The court found that the evidence presented established their membership and active participation in the terrorist group responsible for the attack.
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‎According to the judgment, the convicts were identified as key members of a terrorist cell operating within Kogi State and were directly involved in the assault on the church during a Pentecost service attended by hundreds of worshippers.
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‎The prosecution told the court that the attackers invaded the church premises, held worshippers hostage, and carried out a coordinated attack that resulted in significant loss of life, injuries, and widespread trauma among victims and their families.
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‎Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the attackers allegedly deployed improvised explosive devices alongside assault rifles in executing the attack, which prosecutors said was motivated by extremist ideology.
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‎To support its case, the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered 23 exhibits before the court, including confessional statements, forensic evidence, and digital communication records.
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‎Among the exhibits admitted was a mobile communication device said to contain exchanges allegedly linked to the planning and aftermath of the attack.
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‎One of the prosecution witnesses, a Catholic priest who survived the incident, recounted how multiple explosive devices were detonated within the church premises, causing panic and heavy casualties among congregants gathered for worship.
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‎After reviewing the evidence, Justice Nwite concluded that the totality of the prosecution's case firmly connected the four defendants to the terrorist operation and warranted their conviction on all relevant counts.
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‎The judgment marks a significant milestone in efforts to secure accountability for one of Nigeria's deadliest attacks on a place of worship in recent years and underscores the judiciary's role in addressing terrorism-related offences through the legal process.