Edo State’s newly established Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death in its first verdict in a kidnapping case arising from the abduction of a woman in Benin City.
The defendants — Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael — were prosecuted over the alleged June 14, 2026 abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.
The four men had faced multiple charges bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. They had pleaded not guilty to the charges during the trial.
During Tuesday’s judgment, the court sentenced Gift Raphael, the fourth defendant, to seven years’ imprisonment on count one.
On counts two, four, six and eight, however, the court imposed the death penalty, ordering that he be executed by hanging or through lethal injection.
The court pronounced:
“You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.”
The sentencing followed the court’s consideration of the evidence presented during the trial.
The case involved four defendants who were arrested following investigations into the June 14 kidnapping.
The abducted woman was reportedly taken in broad daylight by gunmen who used an SUV. She was later released unharmed.
Police investigations subsequently led to the recovery of a Lexus RX 350, a pump-action firearm and other exhibits allegedly connected to the offences.
One of the defendants, Marvellous Isaac, was arrested on June 18 during an alleged gun battle with operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team. Another suspected member of the group, identified as Precious, was reportedly killed during the operation. Further investigations led to the arrests of Raphael, Wisdom Michael and Rufus Michael.
The verdict marks the first judgment delivered by Edo State’s newly established Special Criminal Court, which was created to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism cases.
The court became operational in July 2026 following a directive by Governor Monday Okpebholo for a dedicated judicial mechanism to speed up the trial of such cases.
The first verdict comes amid renewed efforts by the state government and security agencies to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The case is also being closely watched as an early test of the special court’s ability to conclude serious criminal cases more quickly.
The sentences are subject to the applicable legal procedures and any available rights of appeal.
The verdict is expected to draw further attention to Edo State’s use of specialised courts in dealing with kidnapping, armed robbery and related violent crimes.
