A wind of change is blowing via felony justice supply, in Edo State. Governor Monday Okpebholo met a troubling scenario on floor which continued – kidnappers and cultists working freely and largely unrestrained. Determined to reverse the tide, he galvanised the State House of Assembly to enact a regulation 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, the whole course of – from arraignment via trial to judgement – was concluded in 74 days. This improvement 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, focus on the optimistic impression 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 have been Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael. Their pleas have 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 pink Lexus RX 350 SUV (Jeep). They seized a girl within the presence of her husband and youngsters, and carried her away by pressure. The abduction was recorded by non-public CCTV cameras, and the footage turned a central a part of the prosecution’s case.
Four individuals have 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 courtroom, arrange for the only real function of prosecuting kidnapping and cultism-related offences, and expediting the trial of violent crime within the State.
The Defendants have 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 have 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, subsequently 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 have 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 known as seven (7) witnesses. Through them, it tendered the next reveals:
1. The pink 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 midst 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 id of the Defendants, their participation within the abduction, and using 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 known as for the defence. Having thought-about the proof led by either 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 discovered 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 (*74*) 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 known as seven (7) witnesses and tendered, amongst different reveals, the pink Lexus jeep used within the offence, the pump-action firearm, the cartridges, money and CCTV footage. The Defendants testified just for themselves and known as no different witness.
The Court convicted all 4 Defendants and imposed capital sentences on every, with an extra 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 attempt 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 vital improvement in felony justice administration. Beyond the current convictions and sentences, the true significance lies in demonstrating that severe felony instances might 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 going through extended uncertainty. Edo State’s new authorized framework and the institution of the Special Court, supply a chance to handle this problem.
The courtroom’s early judgements counsel that, with applicable institutional assist, efficient case administration and diligent prosecution, felony instances might be concluded inside an affordable time. This is an encouraging improvement, within the combat towards kidnapping and cultism.
However, speedy justice mustn’t ever grow to be rushed justice. Every Defendant is entitled to a good listening to, enough authorized illustration, and the chance to problem the proof towards them. The Judiciary should stay impartial, making certain that each judgement is predicated on proof and the regulation.
The Government should additionally maintain this progress by equipping investigative companies, supporting prosecutors and offering the courtroom with the sources required to perform successfully. Reliable knowledge on trial length, convictions, appeals and kidnapping incidents will assist set up whether or not the brand new strategy is producing lasting outcomes.
Edo State’s expertise sends an vital message: sturdy legal guidelines are simplest when supported by environment friendly establishments, and a Judiciary that delivers well timed and honest justice. The final take a look at will not be 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 doubt 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 disguise victims and prepare calls for for ransoms. Both cultism and kidnapping have been discovered to be interlinked in felony enterprise, as cult buildings have 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 scenario, but additionally created a Special Criminal Court 1 to attempt 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 homeowners 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 instant 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 have 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 girl to dying by hanging. They have been mentioned to have dedicated the crime on June 14. They have 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 when it comes to the penalties, but additionally the velocity with which the trial was performed.
Reactions to the Speedy Trial
There have been blended reactions to the trial. These reactions have hinged on not solely the speedy nature of the trial, but additionally the best 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 quick 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 closing choice in each civil and felony issues have to be filed inside three months (civil) or 90 days (felony) from the date of choice of the courtroom.
Given the truth that we’re working a Federal Constitution, the constitutional provisions on honest listening to have to be seen to to be noticed.
Preservation of Right of Appeal
It can be clear that as a Federal State, the best to attraction inside 90 days as supplied within the Court of Appeal Act overrides every other State regulation, and acts as a security valve for the convicts.
It is subsequently clear that, whereas the Special Criminal Court operates underneath 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 have to 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 acquire from this method. They embody:-
Restoration of Public Confidence within the Judiciary
Many Nigerians don’t hassle to report crimes as a result of they don’t consider 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 Awaiting 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 forestall avoidable conditions the place awaiting trial inmates undergo many challenges together with dying, in our detention amenities.
Decongestion of Courts
Our courts are common function courts, the place Judges are overloaded and overburdened with instances. The system being carried out in Edo State, will definitely have the optimistic impact of decongesting our courts.
Priority to Cases like Cultism and Kidnapping
Prior to this era, severe 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 scale 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 brought about witnesses to lose reminiscence of occasions, thereby distorting the pattern of prosecution of such instances. This can be eradicated, or lowered underneath this dispensation.
Restoration of Investment Confidence
Speedy trials will restore buyers’ confidence to Edo State, thereby defending and boosting financial improvement of the State.
Conclusion
It is apparent 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 subsequently, wanted a drastic resolution. 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 improvement.
The benefits of a speedy trial as acknowledged above, far outweigh the disadvantages, and subsequently, it’s essential we embrace it, as justice delayed is justice denied.
Mack Ogbamosa, Legal Practitioner; Communication Consultant
