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An Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four persons to death by hanging or lethal injection for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in the state capital.
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The convicts (Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27), were convicted on various counts arising from an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
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Justice T. A. Momodu, who delivered the judgment after more than three hours of proceedings on Tuesday, said the prescribed punishment under the law left him with no discretion to impose lesser sentences on the counts attracting the death penalty.
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The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges tendered as exhibits, directing that they be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer for destruction within 30 days.
September 29, (THEWILL) – An Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four persons to death by hanging or lethal injection for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in the state capital.
The convicts are Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
THEWILL reports that Justice T. A. Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday after more than three hours of proceedings on an 11-count charge brought against the defendants.
The charges bordered on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The case arose from the broad-daylight abduction of a woman on June 14, 2026, at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.
In his judgment, Justice Momodu said the law prescribed the punishment applicable to the offences for which the defendants were convicted, leaving him without discretion to impose alternative sentences.
“My hands are tied under the law. I wish the law permitted me to exercise my discretion. I would have, but my hands are tied. I will just impose the sentence as prescribed by the law,” the judge said.
Isaac was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine. He was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Michael received seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine.
Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
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Raphael, on his part, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two, four, six and eight.
Pronouncing the death sentences, the judge ordered that the affected convicts be hanged by the neck until dead or subjected to lethal injection in accordance with the prescribed punishment.
The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges tendered as exhibits during the trial.
Justice Momodu directed that the firearm and cartridges be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Edo State Police Headquarters, for destruction within 30 days.
The Edo State Special Criminal Court was established on July 1, 2026, to handle cases involving kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes, to expedite the prosecution and determination of such cases. Tuesday’s ruling marked the court’s maiden judgment in a kidnapping case.
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