Owo Massacre: Prosecution requests death penalty for suspects

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which 41 worshippers were killed.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to the parties after counsel to the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.

The judge informed lawyers that the court would notify them once the judgment was ready, adding that the notice could come within 24 hours.

During his final address, counsel to the Department of State Services, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death because of the gravity of the offence allegedly committed.

Counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish its case against them.