By Ado Oyeyemi
A 32 year old man, Marvelous Isaac, accused of leading a kidnapping syndicate in Edo State, has denied involvement in the offences levelled against him, insisting that he is an electrician and not a kidnapper.
Isaac made the declaration on Friday while testifying before the Special Criminal Court in Benin City, presided over by Justice Terry Aigbona Momodu.
The court was established by the Edo State Government to handle kidnapping and cultism related cases.
The defendant came under cross examination by the Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Roland Otaru, during which he rejected allegations linking him to the abduction of a woman at a vegetable market along Airport Road in Benin City on June 14, 2026.
He also denied involvement in several other kidnapping incidents allegedly carried out across the state.
Isaac and three other defendants are standing trial on a 10 count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The other defendants are Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Isaac’s 27 year old girlfriend, Gift Raphael.
While giving evidence, Isaac said he had no connection with the alleged crimes and claimed he did not know the other accused persons except his girlfriend.
“I am not a kidnapper. I am an electrician who specialises in house wiring. I do not own a car and I cannot drive,” he told the court.
The defendant also denied knowing Oreoghene Street along the Siluko Road axis of Benin City, where prosecutors alleged he abducted a victim on March 8, 2025, and collected a ransom of N5 million.
He further rejected allegations linking him to the alleged abduction of a man identified as Paul at his wife’s pharmacy opposite Ekenwa Army Barracks on April 23, 2026, as well as another alleged kidnapping along Ekehuan Road near a commercial bank on May 26, 2026.
Isaac equally denied collecting ransoms and valuables, including N5.5 million, a Lexus RX 350 SUV, N12.5 million, a Tecno Spark 20 Pro Plus mobile phone, car keys and other personal belongings from the victims before their release.
Following the conclusion of the cross examination, Justice Momodu adjourned the case until August 5, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Speaking after the proceedings, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the Edo State Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, described the day’s sitting as successful.
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He noted that the defence had opened its case with the testimony of the first defendant, who denied all the allegations against him, expressing confidence that the court would ultimately deliver justice based on the evidence presented.
