Edo Special Court sentences four kidnappers to death over woman’s abduction [VIDEO]

An Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death for their roles in the abduction of a woman at Vegetable Market, along Airport Road, Benin City.

The defendants—Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael—were convicted on an 11-count charge involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, following the abduction of the victim on June 14, 2026.

The judge held that the court had no option but to impose the maximum penalties prescribed by law for the offences proved against the defendants.

All four defendants received seven-year prison sentences on count one.

Isaac, the first defendant, was sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine. He also received a 10-year prison sentence on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.

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The second defendant, Wisdom Michael, was similarly sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine.

Rufus Emete Michael, the third defendant, received death sentences on counts two, three, six and seven, while Gift Raphael, the fourth defendant, was sentenced to death on counts two, four, six and eight.

The court also ordered that a pump-action firearm and cartridges recovered from the defendants be forfeited to the Federal Government and destroyed by the police within 30 days.

The judgment marks the first major ruling by the Edo State Special Criminal Court since its establishment in June 2026.

The special court was constituted by Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, to fast-track the prosecution of cases involving kidnapping and cult-related offences amid concerns over violent crime in the state.

The court was established following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo, according to Osawaru, who provided details on its creation.

The establishment of the special court forms part of the state’s judicial response to kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes, with the objective of ensuring faster determination of cases involving serious criminal offences.