An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing four suspected members of a kidnapping gang to death by hanging. The convicts, Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27, were found guilty of kidnapping and other related offences. The judgment, delivered by Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu, followed a trial that lasted for several months.
The case dates back to June 14, when armed men allegedly attacked a vehicle at the busy Vegetable market and abducted a woman in the presence of her husband and children. The incident generated public concern and triggered a police investigation. According to evidence presented before the court, investigations connected the defendants to the alleged criminal enterprise, leading to their arrest and prosecution.
The prosecution, led by Professor Roland Otaru, called seven witnesses during the trial, while the defence did not call any witness. The court admitted several exhibits, including alleged confessional statements, a Lexus RX 350 SUV, a pump-action firearm, ammunition, a mobile phone, and other materials tendered by the prosecution. The prosecution's case linked the defendants to the June 14 abduction.
In his judgment, Justice Momodu found the defendants guilty on various counts, although the sentences differed according to the counts on which each was convicted. Isaac was sentenced to seven years on one count, 10 years on another, and life imprisonment on another, in addition to the death penalty on several kidnapping counts. The other defendants received varying sentences, with some discharged and acquitted on certain counts.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olayiwola Afolabi, has cautioned Governor Monday Okpebholo against taking any step towards executing the convicts until the expiration of the period allowed by law for them to exercise their right of appeal. Afolabi said the governor could not lawfully order the execution of the convicts immediately, stressing that they should first be allowed to pursue whatever appellate remedies are available to them.
The development has raised broader questions about the balance between speedy criminal justice, deterrence of violent crime, and the constitutional safeguards available to persons convicted by the courts. The case had attracted particular attention because of the alleged brazen nature of the June 14 abduction and the decision to prosecute it before a specialised criminal court.
The judgment is being viewed as a significant milestone in Edo State's efforts to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes. Barrister Jude Okonkwo commended Justice Momodu for what he described as a sound judgment and for the effort invested in the trial. The case is expected to remain a major reference point in the assessment of Edo's specialised approach to the prosecution of kidnapping cases.
Key points
- The convicts were sentenced to death by hanging for kidnapping and other related offences.
- The judgment was delivered by Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu of the Edo State Special Criminal Court.
- A Senior Advocate of Nigeria has cautioned the governor against executing the convicts until the appeal window expires.
