The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman in the popular Vegetable Market, off Airport Road in Benin City. The court, established under the directive of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, is mandated to handle kidnapping and cultism-related cases. The four sentenced persons – three males and one female – are Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
According to the court's verdict, the exhibits recovered from the four sentenced persons – a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges – were ordered to be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo State Police Command. The abducted victim, whose name was not disclosed, was at the market with her children and husband when gunmen reportedly came to the scene and whisked her away.
The incident was subsequently confirmed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem. A video online showed a woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident describing it as kidnapping. She stated that she saved the woman's children and had bruises on her legs. The kidnapping occurred on June 14, and the convicts were arrested three days later.
During the verdict on Tuesday, Justice Aigbona Momodu found the four persons guilty of kidnapping and convicted them accordingly. The judge found the first defendant, Marvellous Isaac, guilty on all the counts, including being a member of the Eiye Confraternity. Marvellous Isaac was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on count one, 10 years' imprisonment on count 10, life imprisonment on count 11, and death on counts two to nine.
The other defendants received various sentences, with Wisdom Michael discharged and acquitted on counts 10 and 11. Rufus Michael got seven years' imprisonment on count one and the death sentence on counts two to nine. Gift Raphael, the only female convict, was discharged and acquitted on counts four, five, eight, nine, 10, and 11, and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment on count one and received the death sentence on counts two, four, six, and eight.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and notary public, Olayiwola Afolabi, has cautioned Governor Monday Okpebholo against the immediate execution of the four persons. Afolabi urged Governor Okpebholo to allow the convicts to appeal against the judgment within 90 days, as required by law. Afolabi stated that the governor cannot order the execution of the convicts until the 90-day appeal period has expired.
The prosecution, led by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Roland Otaru, called seven witnesses during the trial, and the convicts did not call any witnesses. The judge found that the defence did not object to the exhibits tendered, especially the confessional statements of the convicts, and all the defendants were found guilty of kidnapping.
Key points
- The Edo State Special Criminal Court sentenced four individuals to death for kidnapping a woman in Benin City.
- The convicts were found guilty of various charges, including kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
- A Senior Advocate of Nigeria has cautioned the governor against immediate execution, urging him to allow the convicts to appeal within 90 days.
