Benin – The Edo State Special Criminal Court in Benin on Tuesday fixed July 24 for the defence to open its case in the trial of four suspects charged over the alleged kidnapping at the Airport Road Vegetable Market.
The defendants are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court adjourned the matter after the prosecution formally closed its case, following the testimony of two Investigating Police Officers (IPOs).
At the resumed hearing, the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru (SAN), who led the prosecution, called the two IPOs—Insp. Udeme Otite and Insp. Jimoh Oisaikhoba—to testify.
Otite told the court that she handled the case file assigned to her for investigation.
Oisaikhoba, in his testimony, explained how statements were obtained from the defendants during the investigation and tendered several exhibits, including a Lexus Jeep allegedly recovered from the first defendant.
The court inspected the vehicle, which was parked within the premises.
The IPO alleged that the vehicle belonged to one of the kidnapped victims and that the first defendant had changed its number plate and repainted it from grey to red.
He further told the court that cash sums, a pump-action gun and a Tecno Spark 20 Pro mobile phone were recovered from the first defendant.
Video clips showing how the defendants’ statements were obtained were also played in open court.
During cross-examination by Amechi Onwuzor, counsel to the first to third defendants, the witness said statements from two of the defendants were taken in the presence of their mothers, who also countersigned them.
He, however, admitted that some aspects of his oral testimony were not contained in his investigation report.
The witnesses were also cross-examined by Felix Imasuen, counsel to the fourth defendant.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the trial judge, Justice Terry Momodu, directed the defence to open its case on July 24.
NAN reports that the defendants are standing trial over their alleged involvement in a kidnapping at the Airport Road Vegetable Market on June 14.