According to Authority Newspaper, a Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to shield witnesses set to testify in the ongoing trial of suspects linked to the 2022 Owo church massacre.
LagosExplorer reports that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Tuesday after listening to an ex parte motion filed by DSS counsel, Calistus Eze, which sought to conceal the identities of witnesses for their safety. The application was not opposed by defense counsel, Abdullahi Muhammad.
With the ruling, witnesses in the case will testify under coded identities and veiled appearances, while their names and personal information will be omitted from public records and court proceedings.
The defendants standing trial are Idris Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47. They are accused of orchestrating the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where over 40 worshippers were killed and more than 100 others sustained injuries.
The DSS has argued against granting the suspects bail, insisting that they pose a security risk and could interfere with the trial due to alleged links with foreign terrorist groups. The court has fixed September 10 for ruling on their bail application.