Edo State authorities finished presenting their evidence on Tuesday in the trial of four individuals accused of kidnapping. The proceedings took place in a specialized court designated for handling abduction and cult-related offenses in Benin City. Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses to support the charges.
The defendants, identified as Marvellous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Gift Raphael, 27, face 10 charges including kidnapping, armed robbery, cult activities, and illegal possession of weapons. These charges stem from an incident where a woman was abducted near a vegetable market on Airport Road.
State Attorney-General Prof. Roland Otaru led the legal team, with five witnesses testifying on Friday and two additional witnesses on Tuesday. An Investigating Police Officer presented video footage of the interrogations, written statements, and a recording of a conversation between Isaac and his girlfriend, Raphael. The court also accepted several items into evidence, such as a pump-action shotgun, a mobile phone, and a Lexus SUV.
Defense attorneys Amaechi Achi Onwuzor and Felix Osadebamwen Imasuen cross-examined the state witnesses. Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s presentation, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu scheduled the start of the defense case for July 24, 2026. Solicitor-General Stephen Okoror emphasized the state’s confidence in the evidence submitted, while defense counsel Onwuzor stated his commitment to upholding the suspects’ constitutional rights.
