Terrorism cases are so sensitive that witnesses must be protected on order of the court
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted the Department of State Service’s (DSS) request to shield the identities of witnesses in the trial of five alleged Al-Shabab terrorists. Justice Emeka Nwite approved the ex-parte application, argued by the DSS, citing the need to protect witnesses from potential attacks.
Dr. C. S. Eze, who represented the DSS, stressed that “terrorism cases are so sensitive that witnesses must be protected on order of the court.” With no opposition, the court ordered that the DSS refrain from disclosing the names and identities of those set to testify.
The five accused—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar—were arraigned on August 11 on a nine-count terrorism charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025) filed by the DSS. They are alleged to belong to an Al-Shabab cell in Kogi State and to have orchestrated the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed over 40 lives and injured more than 100. All defendants pleaded not guilty when charges were read.