*Acquits one for lack of evidence
*Justice has been served — Aiyedatiwa
Those found guilty on a nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, on behalf of the Federal Government were Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25), while the 5th defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), was discharged for want of evidence linking him to the attack.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided, said he was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case against the four convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.
He held that the evidence before the court established that they belonged to and actively participated in the activities of the terrorist group, which included the church attack.
The attack, carried out while the church celebrated Pentecost, resulted in the deaths of more than 40 people and serious injuries to over 100 others.
The court was told that the convicts, who were principal members of an Al-Shabaab terrorist cell operating in Kogi State, invaded the church and held worshippers hostage, during which they caused extensive destruction.
It was alleged that they used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and AK-47 rifles to perpetrate the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.
Among the items admitted in evidence were confessional statements and a Digital Forensic Examination Report, tendered alongside a Tecno phone alleged to contain communications exchanged by the convicts before and after the terror attack.
