The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four people to death over their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market, off Airport Road, Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu handed down the sentences while delivering judgment on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, Channels TV reports.
The court, established following a directive by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, was set up to handle cases relating to kidnapping and cultism.
The convicts are Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court also ordered that the exhibits recovered from the defendants, including a pump-action rifle, two unexpended cartridges and two expended cartridges, be handed over to the Edo State Police Command for destruction.
The case relates to the reported abduction of a woman at the vegetable market, where she was said to have been with her husband and children when gunmen allegedly invaded the area and took her away.
A woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident had described how the victim was abducted in a video that circulated online.
She said, “Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being kidnapped.”
She continued, “Who said kidnapping is not in Benin? A kidnapping happened in my presence right at Airport Road by 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.”
The incident was later confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem.
In the judgment, Isaac was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, while he received death sentences on counts two to nine.
He was also sentenced to 10 years on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Michael received a seven-year jail term on count one and death sentences on counts two to nine.
For Rufus Emete Michael, the court imposed a seven-year sentence on count one and death sentences on counts two, three, four, six and seven.
Raphael was sentenced to seven years on count one and death sentences on counts two, four, six and eight.
The court ordered that the pump-action firearm and the four cartridges be confiscated and handed over to the Edo State Police armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction.
The court concluded its ruling by stating:
“Sentence: In count one, you, Marvellous Isaac, is hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, you, Marvellous Isaac, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged by the neck till you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
“In count ten, you, Marvellous Isaac, is hereby sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. In count eleven, you, Marvellous Isaac, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
“Second defendant, in count one, you, Wisdom Michael, is hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In counts two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine, you, Wisdom Michael, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
“Third defendant, in count one, you, Rufus Emete Michael, is hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, three, four, six, and seven, you, Rufus Emete Michael, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on you.
“Fourth defendant, in count one, you, Gift Raphael, is hereby sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. In count two, four, six, and eight, you, Gift Raphael, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging or through the administration of a lethal injection. You shall be hanged by 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 hereby confiscated to the Federal Government of Nigeria
