Five suspects accused of masterminding the 2022 bombing of Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, have pleaded not guilty to nine counts of terrorism filed against them by the Federal Government.
The suspects, Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdul Malik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar, were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. They are accused of being members of the Al-Shabab terrorist group with a cell in Kogi State.
The court has fixed August 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial and ordered the suspects to be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, left over 40 worshippers dead and scores injured.
The National Security Council had linked the incident to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The arraignment comes three years after the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, announced the arrest of those believed to be behind the deadly attack.
