Abdullahi Mohammed, the lawyer representing the three convicted suspects involved in the Owo church massacre, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Abuja Federal High Court’s ruling against the convicts.
The defence counsel vowed to appeal the ruling delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite.
NPO Reported that Justice Nwite had in his ruling on Wednesday sentenced four of the five defendants involved in the 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, to death by hanging.
The presiding judge in his judgment held that the Department of State Services (DSS) had been able to prove the charge against the defendants.
According to Nwite, evidence presented by the prosecution and the defence, after careful review, was “clear” that the convicted men belonged to a proscribed terrorist group known as “Al-Shabaab.”
The presiding judge, therefore, convicted the 1st to 4th defendants on count one for belonging to the terrorist group.
He however acquitted the 5th defendant on that count.
On count two, the judge also convicted the 1st to 4th defendants.
He held that the prosecution’s evidence “remains credible” and was not effectively challenged by the defendants.
On count three, the court convicted them as the masterminds of the attack in connection with a meeting held on May 30, 2022, while the judge discharged and acquitted the 5th defendant on that count.
On counts four and five, the court also convicted the four defendants, while the 5th defendant was discharged and acquitted.
On count six, where the 5th defendant was charged with financing terrorism in connection with the attack, the judge said the prosecution did not prove that he financed the attack.
Justice Nwite then discharged and acquitted him of the counts.
Reacting to the ruling while addressing newsmen, Abdullahi faulted the court’s ruling, alleging bias in the judgement.
He maintained that the defendant acquitted by the court cannot be discharged for the same offence others were convicted for.
“We are appealing it. I’ve told my lord. You brought three people on the same count, and you remove one.
“Where is it done? If you want to carry them along, you carry them along.
“They came for the same charge, carry them together. If you are releasing them, you release them together.
“We are not satisfied. We want to test upstairs.” The defence counsel said.
The defendants convicted include Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, while Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47, was exonerated of the charges.