Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, told the defense counsel in the ongoing trial of five persons accused by the Department of State Services, DSS, of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State to properly guide defense witnesses while testifying in the matter.
The Judge’s directive to Abdullahi Mohammed followed the complaint by the counsel to the prosecution, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN that, the pattern of evidence by the defendants was the same and has been taking too much time of the court.
The senior lawyer said, defense in a criminal matter should not be at large but must be centered on the allegations against the defendants.
He added that with the way they are going, the defendants may not be able to close their defense within a reasonable time.
Although, Justice Nwite said, he would not want to shut out the defendants in giving evidence, especially on the strength of fair hearing but agreed that the defendants were not specific to the facts of the charges against them.
The Judge urged the lawyer to the defendants to lead his clients into issues that are related to the accusations against them to save the time of the court.
Justice Nwite subsequently fixed March 25 for continuation of trial.
The first defendant witness (DW1), Abdulmalik Idris Omeiza had, narrated in his evidence, how he was arrested at about 2:26am on August 1, 2022 by DSS operatives in his house in Okehi LGA of Kogi State and driven to the Lokoja office of the secret police where he was made to speak on what he knew about the alleged terror attacks against the Catholic Church.
The DSS, prosecuting the defendants on behalf of the Federal Government closed their case after calling nine witnesses.
The secret police arrested Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Quasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, Momoh Otuho Abubakar in August 2022 in Kogi and Ondo States in connection with the Owo Catholic church terror attack.
A total of 41 worshippers were killed during the deadly attack with guns and improvised explosive devices while another150 suffered injuries including amputations of legs due to huge effect of the bomb explosions.
Owo Church attack: Court asks defense counsel to guide witnesses in giving testimony
