The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected bail applications for five Al-Shabab terrorists alleged to be behind the attack on a Catholic Church in Owo Town, Ondo State, leading to the death of over 40 worshippers.
Justice Emeka Nwite who dismissed their bail applications on Wednesday, held that the terrorism charges against the suspects were capital in nature.
Nwite also held that they were accused of being members of a strong terrorist organization who may intimidate witnesses, and influence and jeopardize the trial of the defendants before the court.
Delivering a ruling on the bail application, the presiding judge upheld the arguments of the Department of the State Service (DSS), that the evidence against the alleged terrorists was strong and cannot be glossed over.
Besides, the judge said that the argument of the DSS that they will jump bail and bolt away if allowed to go home was not disputed and deemed to be true.
Justice Nwite also upheld the submission of the security agency that the five accused persons did not establish having credible sureties that can stand for them pending their trial.
He said that the arguments of the DSS that admitting them to bail would amount to judicial risk was also not challenged by their lawyers.
In all, Justice Emeka Nwite held that the defendants failed to give cogent and verifiable reasons on why they should be allowed home pending their trial and subsequently dismissed the bail request.
Earlier, before going into the merit of the bail application, the judge had declared the motion on notice incompetent on the ground that names of the five defendants were not listed on the motion paper as required by law.
Similarly, the judge faulted the motion paper on another ground that a joint affidavit of two paragraphs was in support of the request for bail of the five defendants as against the position of law that each of the accused persons must have separate affidavits to back up request for bail.
Nwite fixed October 19 2025 for commencement of trial.
