The Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has commended the handling of a major kidnapping and violent-crime case by the Edo State Special Court, saying the proceedings demonstrated that serious criminal matters can be concluded expeditiously without sacrificing the constitutional right of defendants to a fair hearing.
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The branch spoke following Tuesday’s judgment of the Edo State High Court in Benin City, where Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu convicted Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27, on various counts arising from allegations of kidnapping, cultism and other offences, with death sentences imposed on counts for which they were convicted of kidnapping.
The four defendants had been arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and related offences. They pleaded not guilty and stood trial before the court specially designated to handle kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes in Edo State.
Reacting to the judgment at a press conference on Wednesday, Chairman of the NBA Benin Branch, Omorodion Omoigui, praised what he described as the Special Court’s expeditious handling and determination of the case.
“This matter demonstrates that speed and due process can coexist, and that serious criminal cases can be resolved efficiently while fully protecting the rights of all parties,” Omoigui said.
The NBA chairman said the case provided an example of effective criminal case management and urged other courts to adopt similar practices where circumstances permit.
According to him, unnecessary adjournments should be reduced, court processes should be filed and served promptly, and cases that are ripe for hearing should be allowed to proceed.
“This is not a call for justice to be rushed. It is a call for justice to be delivered efficiently, fairly and without avoidable delay,” he said.
The case arose from a series of kidnapping allegations, including the abduction of Oseghale Precious at Vegetable Market, Benin City, on June 14, 2026.
The defendants were arrested three days later, after which other persons who claimed to have been victims came forward and testified during the trial. The prosecution, led by Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Roland Otaru, called seven witnesses.
During the prosecution’s case, an investigating police officer from the Force Intelligence Department/Intelligence Response Team, Zone 5 Annex, tendered video materials relating to the interrogation of the accused persons as well as their written statements.
The prosecution also tendered a voice recording said to involve Gift Raphael and Marvelous Isaac, together with a pump-action gun, a mobile telephone and a Lexus sport utility vehicle. The exhibits were admitted in evidence by the court.
Justice Momodu, in the judgment, noted that the defence had not objected to some of the exhibits tendered by the prosecution, including statements attributed to the defendants.
The court eventually found the defendants guilty on different counts, although not every defendant was convicted on every charge.
Marvelous Isaac was convicted on all 11 counts. The court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, death on counts two to nine, 10 years’ imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael was convicted on some of the charges but discharged and acquitted on counts 10 and 11.
Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment on count one and to death on counts two, three, six and seven, while he was discharged and acquitted on counts four, five, eight, nine, 10 and 11.
Gift Raphael, the only woman among the four defendants, was also discharged and acquitted on several counts while receiving terms of imprisonment and death sentences on counts on which the court found her guilty.
The convictions remain subject to the defendants’ constitutional and statutory rights of appeal.
Indeed, following the judgment, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olayiwola Afolabi cautioned the Edo State Government against taking any step towards execution before the convicts have exhausted the period available to challenge the judgment on appeal.
Afolabi said the defendants should be allowed the legally prescribed period within which to exercise their appellate rights before any consequential executive action is considered.
The NBA Benin Branch, in its own reaction, placed particular emphasis on the speed of the proceedings, the conduct of counsel and cooperation among justice-sector institutions.
Omoigui commended both prosecution and defence lawyers, describing them as members of the “Lion Bar” who displayed professionalism, diligence and commitment throughout the proceedings.
According to him, while the prosecution presented its case with clarity and focus, the defence lawyers diligently protected the constitutional rights of the accused persons.
He said the conduct of both sides reflected the professional standards expected of members of the legal profession.
The branch chairman also commended security agencies for their response to and investigation of the Vegetable Market incident, saying effective cooperation between law-enforcement institutions and the justice system remains important in the handling of serious criminal cases.
The NBA further acknowledged the role of the Edo State Government under Governor Monday Okpebholo, describing the establishment and support of a Special Court for kidnapping, cultism and related violent crimes as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen its security and criminal-justice architecture.
“We recognise the establishment and support of the Special Court for offences of this nature as an important step toward strengthening the state’s security and justice architecture,” Omoigui said.
“We urge the governor and his administration to sustain and strengthen these initiatives in the interest of the people of Edo State.”
The NBA chairman, however, framed the lesson from the case beyond the particular convictions or sentences, arguing that the wider judiciary could benefit from stronger case-management practices.
He urged courts to reduce avoidable delays, ensure that processes are filed and served promptly and allow matters to proceed once parties are ready.
According to him, the aim should not be to sacrifice procedural safeguards for speed but to remove unnecessary delays while preserving fairness to prosecution, defendants and other parties.
The branch said the proceedings showed that when the judiciary, executive, security agencies, prosecution and defence counsel perform their respective constitutional and professional responsibilities with commitment, the criminal-justice system can respond more effectively to serious security challenges.
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