Update: Don't Grant Bail to Owo Church Attack Suspects Over Foreign Terror Links, DSS Insists

The Department of State Services (DSS) has urgently advised a Federal High Court in Abuja to deny bail to the five men accused of the deadly June 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The security agency warned the court that the defendants have links to foreign terrorist groups and pose a severe risk to witnesses.

In a formal counter-affidavit, the DSS argued that the gravity of the charges—which carry the death penalty—and the defendants’ “propensity for violence” make them a high flight risk.

The agency revealed it is investigating active efforts by the defendants’ “accomplices,” who are still at large, to intimidate witnesses and even plan a jailbreak.

Prosecutors stated that witnesses are already living in fear and have refused to attend court unless their safety is guaranteed.

This concern prompted the court to grant a separate application to protect the witnesses’ identities.

The measures will allow them to testify while hooded and be referred to by pseudonyms.

The five defendants—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47)—have been in custody since their arrest in 2022.

Their lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, argued for bail, stating his clients could provide reliable sureties.

However, the prosecution, led by Dr. Calistus Eze, insisted the application was without merit due to the ongoing security threats.

The trial was also adjourned to September 10 after the prosecution requested more time to formally hand the case over to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The case is being closely watched, with lawyers representing the Catholic Diocese of Ondo present in court.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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