The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death after convicting them on multiple charges arising from the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, marked the court’s first ruling in a kidnapping case since it was established to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in the state.
The convicts—Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael — were prosecuted on an 11-count charge involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
Delivering judgment, Justice Momodu said the applicable law prescribed the punishments for the offences and left the court with no discretion to impose lesser sentences.
Isaac was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine. He also received 10 years’ imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael received seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death sentences on counts two to nine, while Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
Gift Raphael was similarly sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death on counts two, four, six and eight.
The case followed the daytime abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City on June 14, 2026.
The Edo State Special Criminal Court, which commenced operations on July 1, 2026, was established to handle kidnapping and cultism-related cases and speed up the prosecution of violent crimes.
Justice Momodu also ordered the forfeiture of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges admitted as exhibits during the trial.
The court directed that the firearm and ammunition be transferred to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction within 30 days.
