Edo court fixes August 20 for final addresses in vegetable market kidnap trial

Justice Aigbona Momodu of the Edo State Special Criminal Court has adjourned until August 20, 2026, for counsel to four suspects standing trial over the alleged abduction of victims at the Vegetable Market in Benin City to adopt their final written addresses.

DAILY POST reports that Justice Momodu adjourned the case following the closure of defence by the fourth defendant, Miss Gift Raphael.

The 27-year-old Gift Raphael is being defended in the case by Barrister Felix Imasuen while Barrister Henry Amaechi is counsel to the three other suspects – Marvelous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36 and Rufus Emete Michael, 30.

The suspects are standing trial on 10-count charge bordering on cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms.

The defendants are being tried for their alleged abduction of a woman on June 14, 2026 in Benin City, as well as other kidnapping incidents in the state.

DAILY POST recalls that the court had on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 adjourned trial to Friday, August 7, 2026, to enable the defence counsel, Barrister Felix Imasuen, to have a pre-trial conference with his client, the fourth defendant, Miss Gift Raphael.

At the resumed hearing, Prof Roland Otaru, the Edo State Attorney- lGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, who led other state counsel, cross examined the defendant.

During the cross examination the defendant denied involvement in any kidnapping activities and other allegations.

The defendant who said she is into the corn-selling business, added that she has been a girlfriend to Marvelous Isaac, the suspected gang leader of the kidnapping gang, for the past three years.

She also denied being with her boyfriend on June 14, 2026 during the alleged vegetable market kidnapping incident.

According to her, she did not know the first defendant, Isaac Marvelous, as a kidnapper, noting that she knew him as an electrician and later the Chief Security Officer of Ureghin community, Upper Ekenwa Road, Benin City.

Gift also told the court that the money her boyfriend gave her was part-payment of the money she borrowed him.

Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, the Attorney-General, Otaru, commended the presiding judge, Justice Aigbona Momodu, for the speedy trial of the case in accordance with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directive.