Nigeria: four sentenced to death in Edo over kidnapping

The Edo State Special Criminal Court in Nigeria on September 29, 2026, sentenced four individuals to death for the kidnapping of a woman at a popular market in Benin City.

The Convicts are three men and one woman: Marvellous Isaac (32), Wisdom Michael (36), Rufus Michael (30), and Gift Raphael (27).

The group was found guilty on an 11-count charge including kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The victim was forcefully abducted by gunmen while shopping with her family at the Vegetable Market off Airport Road.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Aigbona Momodu in a specialized court recently established by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to fast-track kidnapping and cultism cases.

The court also ordered recovered weapons, including a pump-action rifle and ammunition, to be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Justice Momodu said the defence did not object to the exhibits tendered, especially the confessional statements of the convicts, and all the defendants were found guilty of kidnapping. 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and notary public, Olayiwola Afolabi, cautioned Governor Monday Okpebholo against the immediate execution of the four persons.

Olayiwola urged Governor Okpebholo to allow the convicts to appeal against the judgment within 90 days, as required by law.

Afolabi said, “The governor cannot order the execution of the convicts. It is only when they fail to file an appeal within the required 90 days. I know the Attorney-General will not advise the Governor to carry out the execution when the 90 days have not expired.”