The trial over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, continues at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the Department of State Services (DSS) presents fresh forensic evidence linking the defendants to the crime scene. The 10th prosecution witness testifies that detailed cell phone analysis places the accused at the church premises at the time of the deadly attack.
According to court proceedings monitored by Mediaplusng.com, the DSS operative, identified by code name S.S.J, tells Justice Emeka Nwite that telecommunications data analysis shows that phone calls made by the four defendants coincide with the timeline of the attack. The witness explains that technical evidence obtained from cell site locations indicates that the defendants’ mobile devices were active within the immediate vicinity of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, during the incident.
The DSS officer informs the court that forensic analysis of call detail records and cell tower mapping provides strong technical backing to the prosecution’s case. He maintains that the digital footprint of the accused aligns with the period when the attack unfolds, thereby placing them at the scene.
As reported by Mediaplusng.com, the prosecution also tenders confessional statements allegedly made voluntarily by the first to fourth defendants. The DSS witness states that beyond telecommunications evidence, the accused persons admit involvement in the attack during formal interrogation sessions.
The witness tells the court that the statement-taking process takes place in the presence of the Director of the Legal Aid Council after the defendants reportedly indicate that they cannot afford private legal representation or have family members present. He identifies all five defendants in court and narrates how he obtains the confessional statements, emphasizing that they are made voluntarily and without coercion.
Justice Emeka Nwite overrules objections raised by defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad, who challenges the admissibility of the statements. In proceedings covered by Mediaplusng.com, the trial judge rejects the request for a trial-within-trial, ruling that such a procedure is only necessary where the voluntariness of a statement is in dispute—not where a defendant outrightly denies making the statement.
The judge upholds the argument of the prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), who submits that the defence objection does not meet the legal threshold for ordering a separate trial to determine voluntariness. Consequently, the court formally admits the confessional statements into evidence.
Earlier, the ninth prosecution witness, identified as S.S.I, who leads the investigation team, reiterates under cross-examination that the defendants are directly involved in the Owo church attack. He informs the court that the suspects are arrested in August 2022 across Kogi and Ondo States before being transferred to Abuja for questioning.
The DSS investigator further testifies that the defendants are members of ISWAP and allegedly operate under a cell known as Al Shabab within the region. He also mentions the presence of another group referred to as Mahmuda operating in the area, adding context to the broader security investigation.
Providing further details, the witness states that after the attack, the fourth defendant allegedly returns the weapons used in the operation to an individual identified as Odoba. He also claims that the rented vehicle used for the attack is returned after the operation. According to his testimony, the suspects use two vehicles during the attack—arriving at the church in a rented car before hijacking another vehicle from a worshipper fleeing the scene, which they then use as a getaway car.
The court hears that prior to the attack, the defendants allegedly hold strategic meetings at Government Secondary School, Ogaminana. During one of the meetings, the witness claims that instructions for the operation are issued to the second defendant. He adds that two additional meetings take place on June 3 and June 4, 2022, shortly before the assault.
The DSS investigator insists that explosives and multiple rounds of ammunition are deployed during the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo. He maintains that the investigation is thorough and that all material evidence linking the defendants to the crime is lawfully obtained.
He further confirms that no other individuals outside the current defendants are arrested in connection with the case, stressing that the DSS focuses on those directly implicated through investigative findings.
The high-profile terrorism trial, which has drawn national and international attention due to the tragic loss of lives during the church service in Owo, remains ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourns further hearing in the matter to Thursday, February 19, as the prosecution continues to present its case.
The proceedings underscore the growing role of forensic technology, digital evidence, and telecommunications analysis in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, particularly in terrorism-related cases. As the trial advances, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court for the next phase of legal arguments and witness testimonies.
