Edo Court Sentences Four to Death Over Airport Road Kidnap

The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their roles in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market, along Airport Road in Benin City.

Justice Aigbona Momodu handed down the judgment while ruling on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

The convicts were identified as Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.

The court sentenced each of the four defendants to death on various counts, while also imposing terms of imprisonment on some of the other charges.

The court ordered that exhibits recovered from the defendants, including a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges, be handed over to the Edo State Police Command for destruction.

The case stemmed from an incident in which the victim, who was at the market with her husband and children, was reportedly abducted by armed men.

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A woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident had earlier described how the victim was allegedly whisked away from the market, saying she helped to protect the victim’s children during the incident.

The witness said the incident occurred in broad daylight at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road and dismissed claims that kidnapping was not occurring in Benin City.

The incident was subsequently confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.

Delivering judgment, Justice Momodu sentenced Marvelous Isaac to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death by hanging or lethal injection on several other counts. He was also sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on another count and life imprisonment on count 11.

Wisdom Michael received a seven-year prison term on count one and death sentences on counts two to nine.

Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death on several other counts, while Gift Raphael received seven years’ imprisonment on count one and death sentences on counts two, four, six and eight.

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The court subsequently ordered the confiscation of the firearm and ammunition used as exhibits and directed that they be handed over to the Edo State Police armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction within 30 days.

The Special Criminal Court was established under the directive of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to fast-track the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism-related offences in the state.