A Federal High Court in Abuja reserved judgment Tuesday in the trial of five men accused of orchestrating the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite will communicate the judgment date to all parties involved in the case.
The Department of State Services prosecuted the case with vigor. Lead counsel Ayodeji Adedipe urged the court to convict and execute the defendants.
Adedipe told the court the evidence was overwhelming. He argued that the brutality of the attack demanded the ultimate penalty under law.
According to the prosecutor, security agencies had conducted thorough investigations. He stressed that the case reflected Nigeria's commitment to holding terrorists accountable for one of the nation's deadliest massacres.
The five accused men are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar. They've all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad pushed back hard. He asked the court to acquit all defendants, insisting the prosecution's case fell short of the required standard of proof.
That Sunday in June 2022 shocked Nigeria to its core. Armed gunmen stormed the church during service, killing dozens of worshippers in cold blood.
National leaders condemned the massacre swiftly. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari declared the country would never yield to terrorists and evil-doers.
Ondo's governor at the time, Rotimi Akerodolu, demanded swift justice. Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III also condemned the attack publicly.
International attention followed the killings immediately. World bodies joined Nigerians in calling for accountability for the victims.
The case has gripped public attention since the arrests. Many Nigerians await the court's verdict with keen anticipation.
