Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed their bail application after holding that the charges against them were capital in nature and carried grave national security implications.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday refused to grant bail to five suspected members of the terror group, Al-Shabab, who are standing trial for the brutal attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left more than 40 worshippers dead.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, dismissed their bail application after holding that the charges against them were capital in nature and carried grave national security implications.
The five defendants – Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar – are facing multiple terrorism charges bordering on membership of a proscribed group, conspiracy, and carrying out the Owo massacre.
The judge upheld the Department of State Services (DSS)’s arguments that the evidence against the accused was weighty and that granting bail could lead to intimidation of witnesses, compromise of the trial, or even the suspects absconding.
According to Justice Nwite, the defendants’ counsel failed to provide “cogent and credible” reasons why his clients should be admitted to bail. He also noted that the accused persons did not present reliable sureties capable of standing for them.
He said: “The prosecution’s argument that admitting the defendants to bail would amount to judicial risk was not challenged by the defence and is therefore deemed admitted.”
The judge further declared the bail motion incompetent because the names of the defendants were not properly listed on the motion paper, and the joint two-paragraph affidavit filed for all five accused persons ran contrary to legal requirements that each defendant must depose to a separate affidavit.
While refusing bail, Justice Nwite granted an accelerated hearing and fixed October 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
It would be recalled that the defendants’ lawyer, Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim, had argued the bail application dated August 11, 2025, claiming that his clients had secured “reliable and responsible sureties.”
But DSS counsel, Dr. Callistus Eze, opposed the request, warning that the accused, because of the gravity of the charges, were likely to flee if admitted to bail.
The terrorism charge sheet alleged that the five accused, alongside others still at large, joined the Al-Shabab terrorist group with a cell in Kogi State in 2021 and held planning meetings between May and June 2022 before launching the deadly attack on worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on June 5, 2022.