The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged a federal high court in Abuja to sentence to death five suspects standing trial over the 2022 attack on St. Francis catholic church in Owo, Ondo state.
Justice Emeka Nwite reserved judgment on Tuesday after lawyers to both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.
The trial judge said the date for judgment would be communicated to all parties.
Counsel to the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe, asked the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment, citing the gravity of the alleged offence.
However, defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, urged the court to discharge and acquit the suspects, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The five defendants — Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — were arraigned over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis catholic church.
The attack left 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured.
During the trial, the DSS presented 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including confessional statements, forensic reports and a mobile phone allegedly containing communications linked to the attack.
