Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed defence counsel in the ongoing trial of five suspects linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, to properly guide their witnesses and avoid repetitive evidence.
The judge gave the directive on Tuesday following concerns raised by prosecution counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), who argued that the defence witnesses had been presenting similar testimonies, leading to unnecessary delays in proceedings.
Adedipe urged the court to ensure that the defence focuses strictly on issues relevant to the charges, warning that the current pace could hinder timely conclusion of the case.
While emphasizing the importance of fair hearing, Justice Nwite noted that the defendants must remain specific to the allegations against them. He, however, declined to restrict their right to present evidence, but advised defence counsel to streamline testimonies to save the court’s time.
The case was adjourned to March 25 for continuation of trial.
During the proceedings, the first defence witness, Abdulmalik Idris Omeiza, told the court he was arrested by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives in the early hours of August 1, 2022, at his residence in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State. He alleged that he was subjected to torture, including being suspended with chains, beaten, and electrocuted while in custody.
Similarly, the second defence witness, Al Quasim Idris, claimed he was physically assaulted by DSS operatives in Akure, Ondo State, and pressured to confess to wrongdoing, which he denied.
The DSS, prosecuting on behalf of the Federal Government, had earlier closed its case after presenting nine witnesses.
The five defendants—Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Quasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—were arrested in August 2022 in connection with the deadly Owo church attack.
