court case.webp
The Digest:

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused bail for five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists accused of planning and executing the deadly 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which killed over 40 worshippers. The court cited the gravity of the terrorism charges and risks of witness intimidation as key reasons for the decision.

Key Points:
  • The defendants’ bail application was dismissed due to the capital nature of the terrorism charges
  • Justice Emeka Nwite upheld DSS's arguments that the accused could flee or intimidate witnesses
  • The court found the bail application technically incompetent for omitting the defendants’ names
  • Trial is set to begin on October 19, 2025, with accelerated proceedings
  • The accused are charged with membership in Al-Shabab, planning attacks, and possessing explosives
  • Charges detail meetings in Kogi and Ondo states preceding the June 2022 church massacre
  • DSS opposed bail, emphasizing the severity of the offenses and the strength of the evidence
The ruling marks a critical step toward accountability for one of Nigeria’s deadliest acts of religious violence.

Sources: Daily Post Nigeria