EDO SPECIAL COURT SENTENCES FOUR TO DEATH FOR KIDNAPPING
_Court Delivers Maiden Judgment, Convicts Four Over Daylight Abduction at Airport Road Vegetable Market_
BENIN CITY — The Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four persons to death following their conviction for offences arising from the broad-daylight kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the landmark judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in what marks the maiden judgment of the newly established Edo State Special Criminal Court in a kidnapping case.
The convicts are Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
They were prosecuted on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. The charges arose from the abduction of Precious Oseghale at the Vegetable Market on June 14, 2026.
The incident occurred in broad daylight at the busy vegetable market along Airport Road, where the victim was reportedly with her husband and children when armed men allegedly stormed the area and abducted her.
The incident attracted significant public attention after a witness reportedly shared an account of the kidnapping online, describing how she witnessed the abduction and helped protect the victim's children.
The Edo State Police Command subsequently confirmed the incident, while investigations led to the arrest of the defendants and the recovery of exhibits linked to the case.
In delivering judgment, Justice Momodu convicted the defendants on the counts established against them and imposed death sentences on several of the counts.
The court's sentencing also included various terms of imprisonment on other counts. Reports from the proceedings indicate that Marvelous Isaac received seven years on count one, death sentences on counts two to nine, 10 years on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael received seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two to nine.
While Rufus Emete Michael received seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
Gift Raphael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two, four, six and eight.
The judge explained that the prescribed punishment under the applicable law left the court with limited discretion in imposing the sentences.
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 exhibits be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction within 30 days.
The Edo State Special Criminal Court was established to handle kidnapping and cultism-related cases and accelerate the prosecution of violent crimes in the state.
The court came into operation on July 1, 2026, following a directive associated with Governor Monday Okpebholo and the subsequent establishment of the special court by the Chief Judge of Edo State.
The trial of the four defendants commenced in July, with the prosecution presenting witnesses and documentary and physical evidence before the defence opened its case. The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges at the beginning of proceedings.
Tuesday's judgment therefore represents the first kidnapping verdict delivered by the specialised court, underscoring its intended role in expediting the determination of kidnapping and cultism cases in Edo State.
The judgment brings the trial arising from the June 14 Airport Road kidnapping to a close at the trial-court level and represents a significant development in the state's judicial response to kidnapping and related violent offences.
The case has also drawn attention to the importance of timely prosecution and judicial determination of serious criminal cases, particularly those involving kidnapping, armed robbery, firearms and cult-related offences.
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