Edo Court Sentences Four to Death Over Kidnapping

• Rufus Emete Michael gets seven years on Count 1, death on five other counts

By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk

The Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four persons to death over their involvement in the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.

Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, in the court’s maiden judgment in a kidnapping case. The four defendants — Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael — were convicted on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

The court sentenced each of the four defendants to seven years’ imprisonment on Count 1. Isaac, the first defendant, was additionally sentenced to death by hanging or through lethal injection on Counts 2 to 9, 10 years’ imprisonment on Count 10 and life imprisonment on Count 11.

Wisdom Michael, the second defendant, was sentenced to death on Counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, while Rufus Emete Michael, the third defendant, received death sentences on Counts 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. Gift Raphael, the fourth defendant, was sentenced to death on Counts 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Pronouncing the sentence against Rufus, Justice Momodu declared: “You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.” The court similarly directed that the applicable death sentences against the other convicts be carried out by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection.

The case followed the broad-daylight abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market on June 14, 2026. Reports from the proceedings said the victim was abducted by gunmen who reportedly used an SUV and was later released unharmed. Police investigations subsequently led to the arrest of the defendants and the recovery of exhibits linked to the case.

During the trial, the prosecution tendered several exhibits, including a Lexus RX 350, a pump-action firearm and ammunition. The court subsequently ordered the confiscation of the JoJef pump-action firearm, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges for destruction by the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department within 30 days.

The Edo State Special Criminal Court was established in 2026 to accelerate the prosecution of kidnapping and cultism-related cases in the state. The September 29 judgment marked its first reported judgment in a kidnapping case.

Justice Momodu had earlier indicated that the court was bound by the punishment prescribed by law for the offences for which the defendants were convicted, stating that his hands were tied from exercising discretion in imposing lesser sentences.