The Edo Special Criminal Court has commenced the defence in an alleged kidnapping case involving four defendants accused of abducting victims at the Airport Road Vegetable Market in Benin.
The Edo Special Criminal Court has commenced the defence stage in the alleged kidnapping trial of four defendants accused of involvement in the Airport Road Vegetable Market abduction, following the close of the prosecution’s case.
The defendants are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
At the resumed hearing on Friday in Benin, the defence called its first witness, Marvelous Isaac, the first defendant, who testified before the court.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Amechi Okwuzor, Isaac adopted his statement on oath as his evidence.
During cross-examination by the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN), the witness denied knowing the second and third defendants.
He, however, admitted that the fourth defendant, Gift Raphael, is his girlfriend.
Isaac denied any involvement in the alleged kidnapping at the Airport Road Vegetable Market on June 14, insisting that he neither participated in the incident nor had any role in other alleged criminal activities.
He also denied collecting ransom from any victim connected with the case.
The defendant further told the court that he never admitted to being a kidnapper when he was paraded by police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Benin.
Isaac also rejected allegations that he gave money to his girlfriend between June 14 and June 21, maintaining that the claims were untrue.
He stated that he does not drive and was never inside the Lexus SUV allegedly linked to one of the victims in the kidnapping case.
The defendant added that although he previously served as a Community Security Officer (CSO) in his community, he neither carries firearms nor knows how to operate one.
After hearing the testimony, Justice Terry Momodu adjourned the matter until August 5 for the continuation of the defence.
The four defendants are standing trial over their alleged roles in the June 14 kidnapping at the Airport Road Vegetable Market in Benin.
They are facing an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
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