The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four people, including a woman, to death over the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday after finding the defendants guilty on various counts arising from the June 14, 2026 abduction.
The convicts are Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
They were prosecuted on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. The case became the first major kidnapping trial to reach judgment before the newly established Edo State Special Criminal Court.
The case followed the broad-daylight abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market on June 14. The victim was reportedly at the market with her husband and children when armed men abducted her.
The incident was later confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.
The defendants were arrested three days after the incident, with other victims subsequently identifying them and giving evidence during the trial.
The prosecution, led by Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Roland Otaru, SAN, called seven witnesses. The court also admitted exhibits including a pump-action firearm and ammunition, as well as confessional statements tendered during the proceedings.
Justice Momodu found Marvellous Isaac guilty on all 11 counts. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine, 10 years’ imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11. He was also convicted of membership of the Eiye Confraternity.
Wisdom Michael was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine. He was discharged and acquitted on counts 10 and 11.
Rufus Emete Michael received seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death sentences on counts two, three, four, six and seven. He was discharged and acquitted on the other counts on which he was not convicted.
The only female defendant, Gift Raphael, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two, four, six and eight. She was discharged and acquitted on counts three, five, seven, nine, 10 and 11.
The court also ordered that the JoJef pump-action firearm, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridgestendered as exhibits be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction within 30 days.
The Edo State Special Criminal Court was established to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism-related cases in the state. It became operational in July 2026 following a request from Governor Monday Okpebholo to the judiciary for a dedicated mechanism to deal with violent crime cases.
Following the judgment, Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, urged Governor Okpebholo not to approve any execution before the convicts have had an opportunity to exercise their right of appeal.
Afolabi said the convicts should be allowed to appeal within the statutory period, adding that the governor could not simply order their execution immediately after the judgment.
Counsel to Gift Raphael, Felix Imasuen, also indicated that his client would appeal the judgment.
The judgment marks the maiden judgment of the Edo State Special Criminal Court in a kidnapping case, although any execution would be subject to the applicable legal and appellate process.
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