Edo Court Sentences Five to Death by Hanging for Lawyer’s Abduction and Murder

The Edo State High Court in Benin City sentenced five suspects to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of Barrister Osiobase Omo‑Iyoha.

Justice Efe Ikponmwonba delivered the verdict on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, convicting five of the six accused.

The defendants—Valentine Debbie, Solomon Onobu, Ambrose Amadi, Enoma Okunghae and Saturday Imagbe—were found guilty of conspiracy, abduction and murder. They were also condemned to 14 years’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently. The sixth suspect, Solomon Esuike, who was arrested alongside the others, was discharged and acquitted.

The group allegedly assaulted Barrister Omo‑Iyoha on May 9, 2020, after he intervened in a street quarrel between a local chief’s family and another individual in the Aduwawa area of Ikpoba‑Okha Local Government Area. The lawyer was beaten, taken to an unknown location, and later discovered dead in a shallow grave in Aduwawa.

In the judgment of case B/CD/136C/22 between the State and Valentine Dibie and five others, the court found five of the six accused guilty of conspiracy and abduction, sentencing them to 14 years in prison and to death by hanging for murder.

Justice Ikponmwonba explained that the sentence followed a thorough examination of the accused’s statements and the arguments presented by both prosecution and defence. She stated that the prosecution proved its case against five defendants beyond reasonable doubt, while the evidence against Solomon Esuike was insufficient, leading to his discharge and acquittal.

After the judgment, Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa, counsel for the discharged defendant, described the ruling as commendable and noted that his client was found to have no connection to the incident.

It is alleged that the prime suspect in the abduction and murder case, identified as Osasu Osadolor, remains at large.