By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced four of the five defendants being prosecuted for their involvement in the 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, to death by hanging.

Judge Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, held that the Department of State Services (DSS) had been able to prove the charge against the defendants.

Justice Nwite held that after careful review of the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defence, it was “clear” that the convicted men belonged to a proscribed terrorist group known as “Al-Shabaab.”

The judge, therefore, convicted the 1st to 4th defendants on count one for belonging to the terrorist group and acquited the 5th defendant on that count.

On count two, the judge also convicted the 1st to 4th defendants.

He held that the prosecution’s evidence “remains credible” and was not effectively challenged by the defendants.

On count three, the court convicted them as the masterminds of the attack in connection with a meeting held on May 30, 2022, while the judge discharged and acquitted the 5th defendant on that count.

On counts four and five, the court also convicted the four defendants, while the 5th defendant was discharged and acquitted.

On count six, where the 5th defendant was charged with financing terrorism in connection with the attack, the judge said the prosecution did not prove that he financed the attack.

Justice Nwite then discharged and acquitted him of the counts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants convicted are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, while Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was exonerated of the charges.

The attack, which took place on June 5, 2022 at the church, left no fewer than 41 worshippers dead while over a 100 others sustained varying degree of injuries.(NAN)

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