The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the popular Vegetable Market, off Airport Road in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The court was established under the directive of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to handle kidnapping and cultism-related cases.
The convicts — three males and one female — are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court also ordered that exhibits recovered from the convicts — a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges — be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Edo State Police Command.
The victim, whose name was withheld, was reportedly at the market with her husband and children when gunmen stormed the area and whisked her away.
An eyewitness who claimed to have been at the scene at the time of the incident described it in a video that circulated online.
“Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being kidnapped. Who said kidnapping is not in Benin? A kidnapping happened in my presence right at Airport Road
the Vegetable Market. Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it doesn’t exist. I saved the woman’s children today. This is me. It happened in front of me. We were both buying something in the same place, at the vegetable market. This is me; I have bruises. These are my legs,” she said.
The incident was later confirmed
the State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.
Full Court Verdict:
“Sentence: In count one, you, Marvellous Isaac, is here
sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, you, Marvellous Isaac, is here
sentenced to death
hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged
the neck till you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
In count ten, you, Marvellous Isaac, is here
sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. In count eleven, you, Marvellous Isaac, is here
sentenced to life imprisonment.
Second defendant, in count one, you, Wisdom Michael, is here
sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In counts two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine, you, Wisdom Michael, is here
sentenced to death
hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged
the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
Third defendant, in count one, you, Rufus Emete Michael, is here
sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, three, four, six, and seven, you, Rufus Emete Michael, is here
sentenced to death
hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged
the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
Fourth defendant, in count one, you, Gift Raphael, is here
sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, four, six, and eight, you, Gift Raphael, is here
sentenced to death
hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged
the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
Now, Exhibit M, the JoJef pump action, and two unexpended cartridges, and the two expended cartridges, Exhibit E and E1, are here
confiscated to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Both exhibits shall be handed over to the Edo State Armourer of the Nigerian Police, State CID, Edo State Headquarters,
the Deputy Director of the Criminal Division for destruction 30 days hence. This shall be the judgment of the courts.”
