The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death for their involvement 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 bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
Trial judge, Justice Aigbona Momodu, delivered the judgment on Tuesday, following the abduction of the victim on June 14, 2026.
Justice Momodu said he had no option but to impose the maximum penalties prescribed by law for the offences proved against the defendants.
The judge sentenced each of the four defendants to seven years imprisonment on count one.
Isaac, the first defendant, was sentenced to 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.
The second defendant, Wisdom Michael, was sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine.
Rufus Emete Michael, the third defendant, received the death sentence 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 the 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 conviction delivered by the Edo State Special Criminal Court since its establishment in June.
The special court was constituted by the Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to fast-track the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism cases and strengthen the state’s response to violent crime.
The court was established following a request by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, according to the state judiciary.
