Five Sentenced to Death for Edo Lawyer's Murder

On Wednesday, the Edo State High Court in Benin City sentenced five individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in the kidnapping and murder of lawyer Iyoha Osobas. The court, presided over by Justice Ef Ikpomwonba, found that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the five defendants beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to their conviction on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Solomon Esuik, citing insufficient evidence to sustain the charges against him. Esuik's defense team, led by Douglas Ogbankwa and P.

Uzor S. Idemudia, successfully challenged the prosecution's case.

The trial attracted significant attention within Edo State's legal community, particularly due to the brutal nature of Osobas's murder in May 2020, where he was reportedly abducted, beaten to death, and buried in a shallow grave in the Aduwawa area of Benin City. The judgment concluded a six-year legal battle that had drawn calls for justice from senior legal and political figures, including Chief Festus Keyamo.