The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has yesterday refused a bail application filed by five men accused of being members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group whom unleashed terror attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, that claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured. The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, dismissed the application, insisting that the terrorism charges against the defendants were capital offences and that releasing them on bail would pose a significant security risk.
The defendants includes; Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar whom, through their lawyer, Abdullahi Ibrahim, filed a bail application dated August 11, 2025, and argued on August 19.
The defendant counsel argued that his clients have secured “reliable and responsible sureties” to stand for them if granted bail.
However, the Department of State Services, Lawyer, Dr Callistus Eze, opposed the application, warning that they might abscond considering the gravity of the offence committed and the strength of evidence against them.
The DSS also argued that admitting them to bail could intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial.
Accordingly, Justice Nwite concord with the prosecution counsel and ruled that the defendants had failed to provide cogent and verifiable reasons for their release and had not presented credible sureties.
He added that granting them bail would amount to “judicial risk.”
The judge also noted procedural defects in the bail application, pointing out that the names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law.
In addition, the application was supported by a joint two-paragraph affidavit, contrary to the requirement that each defendant must provide a separate affidavit.
The defendants are facing multiple terrorism-related charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including membership of Al-Shabab’s Kogi State cell, participation in meetings where the Owo church attack was planned.
Other offences are possession of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs and AK-47 rifles, detonating explosives at St. Francis Catholic Church on June 5, 2022, resulting in the deaths of more than 40 people and injuries to over 100 others.
The horrific attack at St Francis Catholic Church shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation both locally and internationally.
There has been concern across the country that beyond the North-East,where Boko Haram and ISWAP have been most active, other part of the country are not safe.
Meanwhile, Justice Nwite ordered that the accused should remain in DSS custody and granted an accelerated hearing of the case, fixing October 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has hailed the court ruling, saying the victims of the attack deserved justice.
Alhough the court is yet to establish the guilt of the defendants, HURIWA, has through a statement yesterday, insisted that “anything less than the heaviest penalties for the grave crimes against humanity committed by the terrorists is totally unacceptable.”
HURIWA, citing statistics of casualties from terrorism in Nigeria in just a few years as published by statista.com, noted that between 2011 and 2023, Boko Haram was responsible for thousands of deaths in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
“Nigeria is the country most affected by the terrorist group’s attacks. States in the North-East register the highest number of deaths. Borno is by far the most threatened state, in that Boko Haram has caused over 38,000 deaths in this area,” the group noted.