Edo State Government on Tuesday closed its case in the trial of four suspected kidnappers after calling seven witnesses at a special court set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo to try kidnapping and cult-related cases.
The four suspects are facing trial in the abduction of a woman at the vegetable market along Airport Road, Benin City.
The suspects are facing 10-count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The four suspects – Marvellous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Gift Raphael, 27 – are being prosecuted by the Edo State Government and the police.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Prof Roland Otaru, who led other prosecution counsel to close the case, said five witnesses appeared last week Friday while two appeared on Tuesday.
The five witnesses that appeared last week were victims of the suspects while the other witnesses are Investigative Police Officers, IPOs.
One of the IPOs from the Force Intelligence Department/Intelligence Response Team, Zone 5 Annex tendered video documents where the suspects were interrogated and their written statements taken.
He tendered a voice note of the female suspect among the kidnapping gang, identified as Gift Raphael, during her conversation with the gang leader, Marvellous Isaac, who also doubled as her boyfriend.
He also tendered a pump action gun, Android Camo 20 mobile phone, Lexus SUV, among others as exhibits which were all admitted in evidence by the court.
The witnesses were cross-examined by Amaechi Onwuzor and Felix Osadebamwen Imasuen, counsel to the first, second, third and fourth defendants, respectively.
Onwuzor, who objected to some of the documents tendered by the prosecution counsel, added that it would address the court on the matter in final written addresses.
Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu adjourned the case to Friday, July 24, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.
Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, Edo State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, said the state government has investigated the case and tendered a lot of documents which include the gun used by the accused.
Okoror, who described the special court as legal, noted that the setting up of the special court indicated that the state government is committed to riding the state of all forms of criminals.
“At the end of the trials the state would no longer experience kidnappings and cultism.
“It is actually a special court created by the Chief Judge of Edo State. It has the rights. They call it a special court. It’s not a customary court.
“It’s a court carved out by the Chief Judge to hear only kidnapping cases and court-related matters,” he said.
On his part, a lawyer, Amaechi Onwuzor, who appeared on behalf of the first, second and third defendants on pro bono, said his duty was to defend the suspects in line with the constitution.
He said at the “end of the trial, the court would deliver judgment based on the evidence before it.”
