WorldStage— The Edo State Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City sentenced four men to death by hanging on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, correcting initial reports of a single convict.
Presiding judge Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the historic maiden judgment for the brazen daylight abduction of a woman at a vegetable market
The presiding judge, Justice Aigbona Momodu, delivered the landmark verdict on an 11-count charge involving the defendants: Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael, and Gift Raphael.
The capital conviction marks the maiden judgment delivered by the special tribunal since its creation.
The prosecution successfully proved that the convicts conspired and executed the violent abduction of a woman, identified as Precious Oseghale, on June 14, 2026.
The victim was snatched at gunpoint by attackers operating an SUV at the popular Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
The brazen nature of the crime triggered an intense police investigation, culminating in the tracking and arrest of the four gang members.
Beyond the core kidnapping charges, the defendants faced severe counts bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and cultism linked to the notorious Eiye Confraternity.
While reading out the sentences, Justice Momodu handed down a combination of jail time and capital punishment based on the specific counts.
For instance, Gift Raphael was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on the first count and condemned to death on counts two, four, six, and eight.
A similar fate befell Rufus Emete Michael and the other co-defendants, bringing an end to their trial.
In addition to the death sentences, Justice Momodu ordered the immediate confiscation of the exhibits used during the operation, which included a JoJef pump-action firearm and four live cartridges.
The court directed that the weapon be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for public destruction within 30 days.
The Edo State Special Criminal Court was officially established on July 1, 2026, following executive directives aimed at fast-tracking the prosecution of violent crimes.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had pushed for the dedicated tribunal to curb the escalating wave of abductions and cult-related activities plaguing the region, pledging that convicted offenders would face the ultimate price under the law.
Legal experts and residents have hailed the quick disposition of justice—concluding within just months of the crime—as a strong deterrent against violent criminal networks operating within Edo State.
