The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday reserved judgment in the trial of five men charged with alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The Department of State Services (DSS) charged Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar with nine counts of terrorism.

Trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite reserved judgement date after lawyers to the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case. Justice Nwite said judgment would be reserved to a date to be communicated to the parties.

The judge told lawyers for the parties that they would receive notice from the court once the judgment was ready, hinting that the notice could be within 24 hours.

In his final submission, counsel to the prosecution, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death in view of the enormity of the crime they allegedly committed.

On his part, the defendants’ lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to establish its case against them.

New Telegraph recalled that a total of 41 worshippers were killed during the terror attack on the church, while over 140 others suffered various injuries. The DSS had called 11 witnesses to establish the allegations against the defendants in the trial that began on August 1, 2025.