A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected a bail application filed by five individuals accused of being members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
They are also linked to the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people and left over 100 others injured.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, dismissed the bail request, emphasizing that the terrorism-related charges against the accused were serious capital offenses. He noted that granting bail would pose significant security risks.
The five defendants who are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, had submitted their bail application through their lawyer, Abdullahi Ibrahim, on August 11, 2025. Their lawyer argued that the defendants had arranged for “reliable and responsible sureties” who would ensure their appearance in court if granted bail.
However, the Department of State Services (DSS), represented by Dr. Callistus Eze, opposed the application. The DSS argued that releasing the accused could allow them to escape, given the severity of the charges and the strong evidence against them. They also expressed concerns that bail could intimidate witnesses and undermine the fairness of the trial.
Justice Nwite sided with the prosecution, ruling that the defendants had not provided sufficient grounds for their release. He also noted that the defendants had failed to present credible sureties and pointed out procedural errors in the application. For example, the names of the defendants were not included in the motion, and the application was supported by a joint affidavit instead of individual affidavits, as required by law.
The five men face multiple charges under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. These include membership in an Al-Shabaab cell in Kogi State and involvement in planning the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo. They are also accused of possessing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles, and carrying out the bombing on June 5, 2022, that killed and injured numerous people.
The attack on the church shocked the country and drew condemnation from both local and international communities. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Nigeria in recent years, raising alarms about the spread of extremist groups beyond the northeastern region, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have been most active.
Following the ruling, Justice Nwite ordered that the accused remain in DSS custody and scheduled the case for an expedited hearing. The trial will begin on October 19, 2025.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) welcomed the court’s decision, stating that the victims of the Owo church attack deserved justice. While the court has yet to determine the guilt of the accused, HURIWA emphasized that anything less than the harshest penalties for the crimes committed would be unacceptable.
The group also highlighted the impact of terrorism in Nigeria, referencing statistics that show Boko Haram’s widespread violence has caused thousands of deaths in Nigeria and neighboring countries. According to data from Statista, between 2011 and 2023, Boko Haram has caused over 38,000 deaths in Borno State alone, making it the region most affected by the group’s attacks.
