Court gavel
The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, on Tuesday, granted leave to four persons standing trial for their roles in the deadly Angwa Rukuba attacks, to each produce five defence witnesses.
This came on a day the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of masterminding the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The decision of the Abuja court followed the conclusion of final arguments by the prosecution and defence.
An unspecified number of gunmen has on Palm Sunday of 2026, attacked Angwa Rukuba in Jos North LGA of the state, killing about 30 persons. Days later, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro.
The Plateau State government charged the three suspects alongside one Ado Ibrahim, said to be at large, with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.
Ruling on a case management conference, the trial judge, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon granted a prayer by Ibrahim, Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar to each produce five defence witnesses.
The judge, who reiterated his promise to grant their matter accelerated hearing, said two full days would be dedicated to the testimony of each defendant’s five witnesses.
The court further ruled that the prosecution answered all the questions in the case management information sheet, and craved reliance of statements of the evidence, the defendants and their witnesses,
Justice Fwomyon also ruled that defendants shall be allowed the use of interpreters provided by them or the court that they can challenge the admissibility of their statement, and be allowed to invite expert witnesses.
The judge however ruled that no party shall be allowed to raise any interlocutory matter in the matter except the ones filed and adopted by the court. Interlocutory matters may be allowed in extreme circumstances, he added.
The judge listed 1st and 2nd July 2026, for hearing on the substantive matter, should the defendants fail to challenge the jurisdiction of the court.
The court decided that the defendants shall remain in custody of the DSS until the next adjourned date.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had, while recently approving a ₦2 billion relief package for victims of the Angwa Rukuba attacks, promised them justice, and to bring perpetrators of the attack to book.
In Abuja, Justice Emeka Nwite fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to all parties, stating that notices would be issued once the court was ready, possibly within 24 hours.
The trial, widely seen as a major test of Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism and mass violence, has been vigorously prosecuted by the DSS, which urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
Lead prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), in a forceful final address, urged the court to convict the defendants and sentence them to death, stressing that the gravity and brutality of the attack demanded nothing less than the full weight of the law.
Adedipe argued that the prosecution had painstakingly established its case against the defendants through compelling evidence and detailed investigations, which he stressed reflected the determination of security agencies to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on innocent worshippers in Nigerian history.
Counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, urged the court to discharge and acquit his clients, claiming that the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove its charges.
Standing trial for the church attack are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
The June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo shocked the nation and drew local and international condemnation.
World leaders, including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary general, António Guterres, the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, condemned the attacks. The UN scribe and the Archbishop of Canterbury described the attack as “heinous”
A large section of Nigerians, including then-President Muhammadu Buhari, then- Ondo Governor Rotimi Akerodolu, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, condemmed the attack, demanded justice for the victims and tougher stance against terrorism.
Then- President Buhari declared that “the country shall never give in to evil and wicked people”.
