Michael Oche
Proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja took a procedural turn on Tuesday as the presiding judge directed the defence team in the trial connected to the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo to ensure that witness testimonies remain strictly relevant to the charges.
Emeka Nwite issued the guidance during the continuation of the case involving five defendants being prosecuted by the Department of State Services.
The intervention followed concerns raised by the prosecution counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, who observed that the defence appeared to be presenting similar patterns of testimony that were not sufficiently tied to the core allegations before the court.
He argued that such an approach could lead to unnecessary delays and extend the duration of the trial beyond a reasonable timeframe.
While addressing the concerns, Justice Nwite acknowledged the defendants’ right to fair hearing but stressed that courtroom efficiency must be maintained. He noted that the evidence presented so far by the defence needed clearer alignment with the specific issues raised in the charges.
The judge therefore advised defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammed, to better coordinate and guide witnesses so that their testimonies remain focused and relevant to the case at hand.
Following the exchange, the court adjourned the matter to March 25 for further hearing.
The prosecution had earlier concluded its case after presenting multiple witnesses. The trial continues as the defendants present their defence in relation to the deadly incident, which drew national attention due to its severity and impact.
