The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced 4 out of 5 defendants to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on worshippers at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The attack, which occured during a church service led to the death of over 40 worshippers, with about 100 others sustaining various degrees of grievous injuries while the church building was severely damaged.
Justice Emeka Nwite held that the prosecution was able to establish its case against 4 out of the 5 defendants.
The judge discharged and acquitted the 5th defendant ruling that he was not found to be linked to the incident in any way while the 4 convicts are to die by hanging.
4 out of the 5 defendants were convicted for belonging to a terrorist group, holding terrorist meeting and attendance for the purposes of supporting a proscribed organisation and aiding, abetting and conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks leading to death and grievous bodily harm.
They were also convicted of hostage taking, kidnapping, hijacking and being armed with dangerous weapons as well as terrorist financing, threats and possession and use of dangerous weapons including explosivess.
The Federal High Court Abuja, on behalf of the federal government has now entered a guilty verdict on 4 out of the 5 defendants prosecuted by the DSS.
