The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four people to death over their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in what marked the court’s maiden judgment in a kidnapping case since its establishment.
The four convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
They had been prosecuted on an 11-count charge involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. The defendants had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the trial, the prosecution presented witnesses and documentary evidence linking the defendants to the offences. Evidence presented before the court included a pump-action firearm, ammunition, a Lexus SUV and other items allegedly connected to the case.
The case followed the broad-daylight abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market on June 14, 2026. Reports said the woman was at the market with her husband and children when gunmen allegedly stormed the area and took her away.
The victim was later released unharmed after a ransom was reportedly paid. Earlier reports on the case stated that investigations led to the arrest of the defendants and the recovery of items allegedly connected to the operation.
One of the witnesses who attracted public attention was a woman who said she witnessed the abduction at the market. In a video shared online, she described seeing a woman being kidnapped in broad daylight and said the incident occurred in front of her.
The prosecution also told the court that investigations resulted in the recovery of a red Lexus RX 350 allegedly used in the operation, a pump-action shotgun and ammunition.
According to reports from the trial, one of the investigative witnesses also tendered video recordings of interrogations, written statements and other evidence before the court. A voice note involving Gift Raphael and alleged gang leader Marvellous Isaac was also presented during proceedings.
In its judgment, the court imposed different sentences on the four convicts depending on the counts on which each was found guilty.
For Gift Raphael, the court imposed seven years imprisonment on count one. On counts two, four, six and eight, she was sentenced to death by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection.
The judge pronounced the sentence in stark terms, stating: “You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.”
Marvellous Isaac was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one, death on counts two to nine, 10 years imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael received seven years imprisonment 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 sentences on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Momodu said the court was bound by the law prescribing the punishments for the offences. He explained that although he would have exercised discretion if permitted, the law required him to impose the prescribed sentences.
“My hands are tied under the law. I wish I have the law permit 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.
The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges tendered as exhibits during the trial.
The exhibits were ordered to 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 in Edo State on July 1, 2026, following moves by the state government and judiciary to create a dedicated judicial mechanism for kidnapping and cultism-related cases and speed up the prosecution of violent crimes.
The case had therefore been closely watched as the first major kidnapping matter to reach judgment before the newly established court.
The ruling now marks the first conviction and death sentences delivered by the special court in its kidnapping jurisdiction, bringing the trial arising from the June 14 Airport Road abduction to a conclusion at the trial-court level.
