A wind of change is blowing via felony justice supply, in Edo State. Governor Monday Okpebholo met a troubling state of affairs on floor which endured – kidnappers and cultists working freely and largely unrestrained. Determined to reverse the tide, he galvanised the State House of Assembly to enact a legislation establishing the Edo State Special Criminal Court. In its first case, Hon. Justice Aigbona Momodu convicted 4 suspects, sentencing them to dying, and one moreover to life imprisonment. Remarkably, your complete course of – from arraignment via trial to judgement – was concluded in 74 days. This growth has drawn widespread commendation from residents of the State, a lot of whom had beforehand resigned themselves to the reign of kidnappers and cultists. The Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Rowland Otaru, SAN; Monday Eboigbe and Mack Ogbamosa, talk about the constructive affect this case has introduced to felony justice supply in Edo State
The Edo Four Convicts on the Special Criminal Court
From the Attorney-General’s Chambers
Prof Rowland Otaru, SAN
I personally prosecuted the case earlier than the Edo State Special Criminal Court in Benin City, Edo State. The Defendants had been Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. Their pleas had been taken on seventeenth July, 2026. Judgement was delivered on Tuesday, twenty ninth September, 2026 by Hon. Justice Aigbona Momodu.
The Commission of the Offence
It was the case of the prosecution that on 14th June, 2026, in broad daylight, armed males arrived on the Vegetable Market alongside Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State, in a crimson Lexus RX 350 SUV (Jeep). They seized a lady within the presence of her husband and youngsters, and carried her away by pressure. The abduction was recorded by personal CCTV cameras, and the footage grew to become a central a part of the prosecution’s case.
Four individuals had been subsequently arrested, and charged in reference to the incident:
1.Marvellous Isaac, aged 32 (1st Defendant)
2.Wisdom Michael, aged 36 (2nd Defendant)
3.Rufus Emete Michael, aged 30 (third Defendant)
4.Gift Raphael, aged 27 (4th Defendant)
The Court and the Taking of Pleas
The Edo State Special Criminal Court got here into being on 1st July 2026, in the course of the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo. It is a specifically constituted court docket, arrange for the only function of prosecuting kidnapping and cultism-related offences, and expediting the trial of violent crime within the State.
The Defendants had been arraigned, and their plea was taken on seventeenth July, 2026, 16 days after the Court was established. The cost was learn and defined to every Defendant, and every of them pleaded not responsible to all counts. By these pleas, the Defendants put the prosecution to the strict proof of each component of each depend, and the matter proceeded to full trial.
The Duration of the Proceedings
Pleas had been taken on seventeenth July, 2026, and judgement was delivered on twenty ninth September, 2026. The prosecution of the Defendants, from the day of plea to the day of judgment, due to this fact lasted:
• In days: seventy-four (74) days;
• In weeks: ten (10) weeks and 4 (4) days, or about 10.6 weeks; and
• In months: roughly 2.4 months.
The depend excludes the day of plea itself.
The Charge
The Defendants had been tried on an eleven (11) depend cost. In substance, the cost lined:
• kidnapping;
• conspiracy;
• armed theft;
• cultism; and
• illegal possession of firearms.
In addition, the first Defendant, Marvellous Isaac, was convicted of membership of the Eiye Confraternity, an illegal cult group.
The Trial
In view of the pleas of not responsible entered by all 4 Defendants to all eleven counts, the burden lay on the prosecution to show its case past affordable doubt.
A. The Case for the Prosecution
The prosecution referred to as seven (7) witnesses. Through them, it tendered the next displays:
1. The crimson Lexus RX 350 SUV (Jeep) used within the fee of the kidnapping;
2. A JoJef pump-action firearm (Exhibit M);
3. Two (2) un-expended and two (2) expended cartridges (Exhibits E and E1);
4. Cash recovered in the middle of investigation; and
5. Private CCTV footage capturing the kidnapping on the Vegetable Market.
6. Confessional statements of the Defendants, video recorded.
The prosecution relied on the oral proof of its witnesses, the car, the firearm and ammunition, the money and the CCTV footage. By these, it sought to set up the identification of the Defendants, their participation within the abduction, and the usage of arms and a car in carrying it out.
B. The Case for the Defence
Having pleaded not responsible, the Defendants testified in their very own defence. Each gave proof on his personal behalf, and no different witness was referred to as for the defence. Having thought-about the proof led by each side and the submissions of Counsel, the Court discovered every Defendant responsible on the counts on which he was sentenced.
The Judgement
On Tuesday, twenty ninth September, 2026, Hon. Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered judgement. It was the maiden judgement of the Edo State Special Criminal Court. The pleas of not responsible however, the realized trial Judge discovered the prosecution had proved its case, and convicted the Defendants as follows.
1st Defendant: Marvellous Isaac
• Count 1: seven (7) years’ imprisonment.
• Counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: dying by hanging or by deadly injection.
• Count 10: ten (10) years’ imprisonment.
•Count 11: life imprisonment.
2nd Defendant: Wisdom Michael
• Count 1: seven (7) years’ imprisonment.
• Counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: dying by hanging or by deadly injection.
third Defendant: Rufus Emete Michael
• Count 1: seven (7) years’ imprisonment.
• Counts 2, 3, 4, 6 and seven: dying by hanging or by deadly injection.
4th Defendant: Gift Raphael
• Count 1: seven (7) years’ imprisonment.
• Counts 2, 4, 6 and eight: dying by hanging or by deadly injection.
In saying every capital sentence, the Court directed that the Defendant “shall be hanged by the neck till you are dead”, and concluded with the phrases, “May the Lord have mercy on you”.
Orders on the Exhibits
The Court ordered that the JoJef pump-action firearm (Exhibit M) and the expended and un-expended cartridges (Exhibits E and E1) be confiscated to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Deputy Director of the Criminal Division was to hand them over to the Edo State Armourer of the Nigeria Police Force, State CID, Edo State Headquarters, for destruction inside thirty (30) days of the judgement.
Conclusion
The trial of the 4 Defendants for the kidnapping of 14th June, 2026 on the Vegetable Market, Airport Road, Benin City, ran for 74 days (roughly 2.4 months), from the taking of plea on seventeenth July, 2026 to judgement on twenty ninth September 2026. All 4 Defendants pleaded not responsible to all counts. The prosecution referred to as seven (7) witnesses and tendered, amongst different displays, the crimson Lexus jeep used within the offence, the pump-action firearm, the cartridges, money and CCTV footage. The Defendants testified just for themselves and referred to as no different witness.
The Court convicted all 4 Defendants and imposed capital sentences on every, with a further sentence of life imprisonment on the first Defendant. It ordered the firearm and cartridges to be confiscated and destroyed. In doing so, the Special Criminal Court, constituted particularly to strive kidnapping and cultism instances, delivered its first judgement since its institution on 1st July 2026.
Prof Rowland Otaru, SAN, Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice
Edo State Special Court: A New Chapter in Fight Against Kidnapping and Cultism
Monday O. Eboigbe
The institution of a Special Criminal Court for the speedy trial of kidnapping and cultism instances in Edo State, marks an essential growth in felony justice administration. Beyond the current convictions and sentences, the true significance lies in demonstrating that critical felony instances may be decided with out pointless delays.
For years, extended trials have weakened public confidence within the justice system, leaving victims ready for justice, and Defendants dealing with extended uncertainty. Edo State’s new authorized framework and the institution of the Special Court, supply a possibility to tackle this problem.
The court docket’s early judgements recommend that, with acceptable institutional assist, efficient case administration and diligent prosecution, felony instances may be concluded inside an affordable time. This is an encouraging growth, within the combat towards kidnapping and cultism.
However, speedy justice must not ever grow to be rushed justice. Every Defendant is entitled to a good listening to, ample authorized illustration, and the chance to problem the proof towards them. The Judiciary should stay unbiased, guaranteeing that each judgement is predicated on proof and the legislation.
The Government should additionally maintain this progress by equipping investigative businesses, supporting prosecutors and offering the court docket with the assets required to perform successfully. Reliable information on trial period, convictions, appeals and kidnapping incidents will assist set up whether or not the brand new method is producing lasting outcomes.
Edo State’s expertise sends an essential message: robust legal guidelines are handiest when supported by environment friendly establishments, and a Judiciary that delivers well timed and honest justice. The final take a look at is just not merely how shortly offenders are convicted, however whether or not the method protects the harmless, serves victims and improves public safety.
Monday O. Eboigbe, Legal Practitioner, Edo State
Speedy Trial of Cultism and Kidnapping Cases in Edo and the Effectiveness of the Law
Mack Ogbamosa
Introduction
There is little question that earlier than 2026, there have been rising instances of insecurity in Edo State. Between January, 2024 and August 2025, it was reported that the State recorded 237 violent incidents leading to 212 deaths. A widespread kidnapping community operated within the State, utilizing rented properties with complicit landlords to cover victims and prepare calls for for ransoms. Both cultism and kidnapping had been discovered to be interlinked in felony enterprise, as cult buildings had been discovered to be major breeding floor for kidnapping, armed theft and different violent actions within the State.
It was towards this background, the State Government not solely enacted new legal guidelines to maintain the state of affairs, but additionally created a Special Criminal Court 1 to strive instances arising from these actions. These new legal guidelines are the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law 2025 and Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law 2025.
Unlike the outdated legal guidelines, the brand new legal guidelines make provisions for penalties, not solely towards the cultists and kidnappers, but additionally their funders and the house owners of properties used for these actions. They additionally make provision for obligatory dying sentence, for these discovered responsible of perpetrating violence main to the killing of their victims, in addition to rapid forfeiture and demolition of properties discovered to be used as hideouts for these nefarious actions.
The Speedy Trial
Creating a landmark within the Judiciary historical past of prosecution in Nigeria, the newly established Special Criminal Court concluded the trial of 4 suspects, who had been discovered to have dedicated the crime of kidnapping on the Vegetable Market on Airport Road in Benin, to dying by hanging inside a interval of two months. The Judge, Hon. Justice Aigbona Momodu, on September 29, 2026, sentenced the three males and a lady to dying by hanging. They had been stated to have dedicated the crime on June 14. They had been arrested on June 18, arraigned in July, and verdict was delivered on September 29. This has grow to be a landmark judgement not solely by way of the penalties, but additionally the velocity with which the trial was performed.
Reactions to the Speedy Trial
There had been combined reactions to the trial. These reactions have hinged on not solely the speedy nature of the trial, but additionally the precise to honest listening to.
While many of the reactions counseled the speedy trial of the convicts, others have raised reservations in regards to the constitutionality of the trial. There are issues as to whether or not the speedy trial met constitutional and statutory necessities on honest listening to. Some have argued that the interval between the arraignment and delivering of judgement was too brief to have enabled the prosecution collect sufficient proof to show their guilt past affordable doubt.
There can be the query of whether or not the Governor of Edo State, Mr Monday Okpkebholo, who has lately vowed to signal the convicts dying warrants in the event that they did not attraction inside 30 days is legally heading in the right direction or not, given the truth that Section 24(2)(b) of the Court of Appeal Act (Cap C36, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria stipulates that an attraction towards a ultimate resolution in each civil and felony issues should be filed inside three months (civil) or 90 days (felony) from the date of resolution of the court docket.
Given the truth that we’re working a Federal Constitution, the constitutional provisions on honest listening to should be seen to to be noticed.
Preservation of Right of Appeal
It can be clear that as a Federal State, the precise to attraction inside 90 days as offered within the Court of Appeal Act overrides some other State legislation, and acts as a security valve for the convicts.
It is due to this fact clear that, whereas the Special Criminal Court operates beneath accelerated State guidelines, it can’t override the Federal Court system.
Therefore, regardless of the Governor making assertion on signing the warrants of execution, no such execution can happen when there’s a pending attraction on the matter or when the 90 day interval of attraction is but to lapse.
Effectiveness of the Speedy Trial and its Advantages
However, it should be famous that the speedy trial of this case, has introduced a excessive degree of debate in regards to the effectiveness and effectivity to our judicial system. To this author, there’s a lot to achieve from this technique. They embody:-
Restoration of Public Confidence within the Judiciary
Many Nigerians don’t hassle to report crimes as a result of they don’t imagine in our justice system, owing to delays in prosecution of suspects. Speedy trials of this nature, will assist to re-establish public confidence within the Judiciary.
Decrease in Number of (*74*) Trials
The excessive variety of awaiting trial instances within the nation, calls for the necessity to have particular courts to speed up the speed of trials, and stop avoidable conditions the place awaiting trial inmates undergo many challenges together with dying, in our detention services.
Decongestion of Courts
Our courts are common function courts, the place Judges are overloaded and overburdened with instances. The system being applied in Edo State, will definitely have the constructive impact of decongesting our courts.
Priority to Cases like Cultism and Kidnapping
Prior to this era, critical instances of cultism and kidnapping which weren’t given precedence consideration, gave suspects sufficient time to have their instances buried. This can not occur.
No More Missing of IPOs
Speedy trial will cut back incidences of lacking Investigating Police Officers (IPOs), who often had to be transferred to different States, whereas the matter they are dealing with in a single State is but to be determined.
Avoidance of Criminal Impunity
Speedy trial will assist to keep away from felony impunity of cultists, kidnappers, in addition to their funders. Delay in trials, permits felony syndicates to resort to destruction of proof, compromise witnesses, safe their bails, escape earlier than trial judgement, and even escape from detention.
Witnesses Challenges Reduced
There have been instances the place delayed trials have triggered witnesses to lose reminiscence of occasions, thereby distorting the pattern of prosecution of such instances. This can be eradicated, or lowered beneath this dispensation.
Restoration of Investment Confidence
Speedy trials will restore traders’ confidence to Edo State, thereby defending and boosting financial growth of the State.
Conclusion
It is clear to many Nigerians that, insecurity has grow to be our main problem within the nation. In the case of Edo State, the speed of cultism and kidnapping had reached an alarming proportion and due to this fact, wanted a drastic answer. But, given the truth that our judicial system which ought to have been helpful within the sanitisation of the system had failed us, particularly due to delays within the prosecution of felony issues, the State Government had to discover a method out. Therefore, the approaching of the Special Criminal Court to speed up trials is a welcome growth.
The benefits of a speedy trial as said above, far outweigh the disadvantages, and due to this fact, it’s mandatory we embrace it, as justice delayed is justice denied.
Mack Ogbamosa, Legal Practitioner; Communication Consultant
