An Edo State Special Court for Kidnapping and Cultism has sentenced four men to death for their involvement in a kidnapping operation in Benin City.
The convicts are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Gift Raphael, 27; Wisdom Michael; and Rufus Michael.
They were prosecuted on 11 counts bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and cultism.
The case followed the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market, off Airport Road, Benin City, on June 14, 2026, after her husband reportedly escaped from the gunmen.
Trial commenced on July 1, 2026, and was adjourned several times before judgment was delivered on Tuesday.
During the trial, the prosecution tendered video evidence said to have linked the defendants to the operation, while victims and other witnesses testified against them. Several exhibits were also admitted in evidence.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge found Isaac guilty on all 11 counts, while Wisdom Michael was convicted on nine counts. Rufus Michael and Gift Raphael were each convicted on five counts.
All four defendants were convicted on Count 10, which relates to kidnapping and attracts the death penalty.
Justice Momodu consequently sentenced the four convicts to death by hanging or lethal injection.
The court also ordered that the firearms recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government and handed over to the police.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Raphael, Felix Imasuen, said his client would appeal the decision.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, SAN, who prosecuted the case for the state, commended the court for the judgment.
Otaru said the judgment demonstrated that justice had been served and would serve as a deterrent to criminals.
