Too Early To Say If Edo Gov Will Sign Death Sentence On Kidnappers – Official

The Edo State government has said it is too early to determine whether Governor Monday Okpebholo will sign the death warrants of four persons sentenced to death by an Edo State High Court for kidnapping and related offences.

A top government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor’s position on the matter was yet to be ascertained, urging the public to await his decision.

When contacted on whether Governor Okpebholo would sign the warrants following the court’s judgment, the official said, “It will be too pre-emptive. You will have to wait until I find out from the governor.”

The clarification came as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Notary Public, Olayiwola Afolabi, cautioned the governor against taking any immediate step towards executing the four convicts.

Afolabi urged the governor to allow the convicts to exercise their constitutional and statutory rights to appeal the judgment, noting that criminal appeals to the Court of Appeal are subject to a 90-day period within which to file a notice of appeal.

He said the governor could not simply order the execution of the convicts immediately after their conviction, stressing that the legal process must be allowed to run its course.

The lawyer said, “The governor cannot order the execution of the convicts. It is only when they fail to file an appeal within the required 90 days.”

He added that he was confident that the attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, would not advise the governor to proceed with the execution before the expiration of the applicable period for appeal.
The four convicts — Marvellous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27 — were convicted by Justice Aigbona Momodu of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City after a trial involving 11counts.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Momodu, after a judgment that lasted several hours, found the defendants guilty of various counts of kidnapping and imposed different sentences, including death by hanging or lethal injection on specified counts.

The court heard that the convicts were involved in a series of kidnapping operations, including the alleged broad-daylight abduction of one Oseghale Precious on 14 June.

They were arrested three days after the incident, following which other alleged victims reportedly came forward to identify them and testify during the trial.

The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru, called seven witnesses, while the defendants did not call any witnesses in their defence.

Justice Momodu also noted that the defence did not object to the exhibits tendered by the prosecution, including the defendants’ alleged confessional statements.

The judge subsequently handed down separate sentences against the four defendants.

Marvellous Isaac was found guilty on all the counts. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one, 10 years on count 10, life imprisonment on count 11 and death on counts two to nine.

Wisdom Michael was discharged and acquitted on counts 10 and 11, while the court imposed the death penalty on the applicable kidnapping counts.

Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one and death on the applicable counts, while he was discharged and acquitted on counts four, five, eight, nine, 10 and 11.

The only female convict, Gift Raphael, was discharged and acquitted on counts 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one and death on counts two, four, six and eight.

Reacting to the judgment, Barrier Jude Okonkwo commended the court and described the decision as a strong effort in addressing kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.