The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death for their roles in the kidnapping of a woman and a string of other violent crimes. The convicts, Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael, and Gift Raphael, were found guilty on an 11-count charge that included kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and the unlawful possession of firearms. The charges stemmed from the June 14, 2026, abduction of a female victim at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in the state capital.
The presiding judge, Justice Aigbona Momodu, delivered the verdict on Tuesday, marking the maiden judgment of the newly established specialized court. Justice Momodu stated that the severity of the offenses left the court with no alternative but to impose the maximum penalties stipulated by the law. The judge handed a uniform seven-year prison sentence to all four defendants for the first count of conspiracy.
The convicts received varying sentences for the subsequent charges. The first defendant, Marvellous Isaac, was sentenced to death by hanging or the administration of a lethal injection for counts two through nine. He was also handed a 10-year prison term for the tenth count and life imprisonment for the eleventh count. Similarly, Wisdom Michael received the death penalty for counts two through nine.
Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to death for counts two, three, six, and seven, while Gift Raphael received the same capital punishment for counts two, four, six, and eight. In addition to the custodial and capital sentences, Justice Momodu ordered that the pump-action rifles and live cartridges recovered from the convicts be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
The court mandated the police to completely destroy the weapons within 30 days. This verdict represents a significant milestone in Edo State's judicial and security landscape, marking the first judgment delivered by the Edo Special Court since its inception earlier this year. The specialized tribunal was established to accelerate the prosecution of cultism and kidnapping cases.
The establishment of the special court was part of the state government's broader security strategy to decisively tackle violent crimes and rid the state of criminal syndicates. The court was constituted following a direct request from the state governor, Monday Okpebholo. This move demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing the growing concerns of insecurity in the state.
The sentences handed down to the convicts serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and a testament to the government's resolve to combat violent crimes. The Edo State Special Criminal Court's maiden judgment is a significant step towards ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes face the full weight of the law.
Key points
- Four men sentenced to death for kidnapping and armed robbery in Edo State
- The sentences were handed down by the Edo State Special Criminal Court
- The convicts were found guilty on an 11-count charge including kidnapping, conspiracy, and armed robbery
