Judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja is currently delivering judgement in the trial of five defendants linked to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. About 40 persons were said to be killed and over 100 others injured in the attack that took place during a Sunday mass at the church.
Mr Nwite, who began reading out his written judgement at about 9:18 a.m., speaks in a firm and loud voice. He intermittently raises his head sharply as reads the judgement to a packed courtroom.
The five defendants standing trial over the 5 June 2022 attack on the church in Owo are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47.
They stand in the dock and fix their gaze on the judge the proceedings unfold. The oldest among them wears a white gown and a white soft rounded cap. He folds his arms across his chest and remains still.
At intervals, some of the defendants turn towards the courtroom audience, as if pleading for help, before shifting their gaze back to the judge as the judgement continues. They now sit in the dock after standing for a long time.
