The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to refuse bail to five men facing trial over the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, citing their alleged ties to foreign terrorist groups.
In its counter-affidavit opposing their bail application, the DSS warned that the defendants could interfere with prosecution witnesses if released, given their violent background and connections to extremist networks.
The defendants are: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47). They were arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the DSS.
The agency stressed that the charges carry capital punishment if proven, adding that the Owo church attack killed about 40 worshippers and left more than 100 others injured.
The DSS said: “There is very high likelihood of defendants evading trial in view of their connection to foreign fighters linked to Al-Shabab terrorist group.
“The defendants’ accomplices are still at large and have been making frantic efforts to monitor their trial, intimidate witnesses and free the defendants from lawful custody.”
It further revealed that it was “currently investigating the leads with a view to apprehending those individuals, planning to intimidate witnesses and compromise the trial in the interest of the applicants.
“The prosecution witnesses have expressed fears of attacks by defendants’ cohorts and have stated that they will not attend court sessions except their fears were allayed.
“This necessitated the filing of an ex-parte application for witness protection.
“The prosecution has demonstrated readiness for speedy trial of the substantive charge. That defendants have not presented any evidence to show that they have credible sureties.
“It will not be in the interest of justice and security of prosecution witnesses to grant the application for bail,” the DSS said.
Defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, urged the court to grant bail, insisting that his clients had been in detention since 2022 and were prepared to produce reliable sureties.
But prosecuting counsel, Dr. Calistus Eze, opposed the request, stressing that threats to witnesses remained active. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned ruling on the bail application to September 10 after listening to both sides.
At the beginning of proceedings, Eze notified the court that the DSS had appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ayodeji Adedipe, to lead the prosecution and requested an adjournment to process a fiat from the Attorney General of the Federation.
Mohammad raised no objection to the adjournment or to the prosecution’s separate application seeking protection for witnesses. The application asked the court to permit witnesses to testify under cover, bar the use of their real names in public records, and allow them to be identified with letters instead.
Justice Nwite granted the application.
After the session, Mohammad told journalists that although he had not personally seen his clients in custody, he was informed that they were being properly treated.
Two lawyers, Edward Ogar and Vincent Adodo, also appeared in court on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo to observe the proceedings.