A defendant in the trial over the 2022 Owo church massacre, Jamiu Abdulmalik, has told the court he is unaware of a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed in his name by his lawyer.
Abdulmalik, who is the third defendant in the case, made the claim on Thursday during cross-examination at the Federal High Court, where he was questioned by Ayodeji Adedeji, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS).
During the proceedings, the prosecution presented a fundamental rights suit filed in December 2024 and sought to tender it as evidence.
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Although Abdulmalik admitted that his name appeared as the third applicant in the suit, he denied any involvement in its filing.
He told the court that no one contacted him in 2024 regarding the application, contradicting statements contained in the affidavit supporting the suit.
Maintaining his position, Abdulmalik said his testimony was based solely on personal knowledge, insisting he neither authorised nor participated in instituting the action.
He further stated that neither his lawyer nor any other person informed him about the existence of the suit.
The court subsequently admitted the application as evidence, marking it as exhibit V.
Abdulmalik is standing trial alongside Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the DSS for their alleged roles in the attack, which left 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured.
