Four men have been sentenced to death by hanging by the Edo State Special Criminal Court in Benin City over their involvement in a kidnapping case linked to the Vegetable Market along Airport Road.
The four defendants, identified as Marvelous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael, were convicted by Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu after facing multiple charges arising from kidnapping and other criminal offences.
Key Highlights
- Four defendants were sentenced to death by hanging in Edo State.
- The case was linked to the Vegetable Market kidnapping in Benin City.
- The defendants are Marvelous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael.
- The case involved an 11-count charge, according to earlier court reports.
- The defendants had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- The judgment was delivered by Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu.
- The case is the first judgment expected from Edo State’s Special Criminal Court established to handle kidnapping and cult-related offences.
Four Defendants Sentenced To Death In Edo
Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu of the Edo State Special Criminal Court sentenced the four defendants to death after the conclusion of the trial over the kidnapping case.
The defendants were previously charged with offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. Earlier reports stated that the prosecution presented witnesses and documentary evidence during the trial.
Vegetable Market Kidnapping Case
The case stemmed from the June 14, 2026 abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the victim was allegedly abducted after armed men blocked her family’s vehicle at the market.
Earlier proceedings also heard evidence concerning other alleged kidnapping incidents and ransom payments linked by the prosecution to the defendants. Victims told the court that more than ₦63 million was paid in ransom in connection with the alleged kidnapping syndicate.
Four Defendants Had Denied Charges
Marvelous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael had pleaded not guilty when the case commenced.
The prosecution subsequently called witnesses, including alleged victims and police investigators, while documentary and physical exhibits were presented before the court.
The defence later presented its case, after which the court heard final submissions from both sides.
A report by News Central TV said the court had adjourned the matter to September 29, 2026, for judgment after final addresses were adopted by the prosecution and defence.
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Edo Special Criminal Court Handles Kidnapping Cases
The Edo State Special Criminal Court was established in 2026 to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping and cult-related cases in the state.
The Vegetable Market case became one of the first major matters before the court following the June abduction that triggered a police investigation and the subsequent arrests of the defendants.
The police had earlier announced the arrest of Marvelous Isaac, followed by the arrests of Gift Raphael, Wisdom Michael and Rufus Michael during separate operations in Benin City and parts of Delta State.
The sentencing marks a major development in the prosecution of the case, which has been closely followed since the June kidnapping at the Vegetable Market.
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