Owo Church Massacre: Suspect Faults Own Counsel, Denies Fundamental Rights Suit Claim Against DSS

Jamiu Abdulmalik, the third defendant in the ongoing 2022 Owo church massacre trial has denied any knowledge of a fundamental human rights suit filed on his behalf by their lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammed.

The denial emerged during cross examination by Counsel representing the Department of State Services at the Federal High Court, where the defendant insisted he was unaware of legal action taken in his name.

When the prosecutor and Senior Advocate, Ayodeji Adedeji, presented a fundamental rights suit filed in December 2024 as evidence, Abdulmalik, who confirmed that his name appeared as the third applicant, however, maintained that he was unaware of the filing.

He insisted that no one approached him in 2022 regarding the case. His position contradicted statements in the affidavit.

The defendant maintained that his testimony reflects only his personal knowledge. He denied any involvement in filing the fundamental rights suit and stressed that he was never informed by his lawyer, or any other person, of the existence of such a suit.

The court however admitted the fundamental rights suit as exhibit V.