A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Wednesday, June 3, 2026 to deliver judgment in the trial of five men charged over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after both prosecution and defence teams adopted their final written addresses on May 26. The court had earlier reserved judgment to a later date to be communicated to parties. b255

The Department of State Services is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar on terrorism-related charges linked to the attack. The DSS called 11 witnesses during the trial which began August 1, 2025.

In his closing submission, prosecution counsel Ayodeji Adedipe SAN urged the court to convict and impose maximum sentence, citing the gravity of the incident. Defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad prayed the court to discharge and acquit the defendants, arguing the prosecution failed to prove its case.

The June 5, 2022 attack on the Catholic church left 41 worshippers dead and over 140 others injured.

Source: The Nation