Court denies bail to Owo church attackers linked to Al-Shabaab
A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to five suspects linked to the 2022 attack on a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, over alleged ties to the foreign terrorist group, Al-Shabaab. Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday dismissed the bail application by Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and […]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to five suspects linked to the 2022 attack on a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, over alleged ties to the foreign terrorist group, Al-Shabaab.
Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday dismissed the bail application by Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, because the terrorism charges against them were capital in nature.
Justice Nwite upheld the submission by the prosecution that, being accused of belonging to a terrorist organisation, they may intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial of the defendants.
Earlier, the judge had agreed with the Department of State Security Services (DSS) not to reveal the identities of the witnesses in the trial, but to shield them during the proceedings.
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The judge fixed October 19 for the commencement of the trial.
One of the charges read: “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5th June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”