Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has matched words with action in facilitating the establishment of a special court to expeditiously try cases relating to kidnapping and cultism in the state as the state’s judiciary on Friday announced the establishment of the court.
The creation of the court was approved by the Chief Judge, Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, and conveyed to the public in a statement dated June 25, 2026, titled: ‘Establishment and Composition of a Special Criminal Court for Edo State sitting in Benin City,’ and signed by the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Benson Osawaru.
Osawaru said the establishment of the Special Court, which is to be known as “Special Criminal Court 1”, would take effect from Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
The registrar, who noted that the court will be sitting in Benin City, the state capital, said, “pursuant to the request by His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the constitution of a Special Court for offences relating to cultism and kidnapping, an additional court to be known as “Special Criminal Court 1” is hereby established with effect from Wednesday, the 1st day of July, 2026, for offences relating to cultism and kidnapping and such other matters as may be assigned to the court by the Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State.”
Newsmata.com.ng reports that Governor Monday Okpebholo had on June 18, 2026, during the parade of suspected kidnappers and other criminal elements by the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Monday Agbonika, vowed to set up a special court to try cases relating to cultism and kidnapping for quick justice.
The governor, on June 19, 2026, followed this up by sending a formal letter to the Chief Judge signed by the Secretary to the State Government Umar Musa Ikhilor, requesting the setting up of the special court.
The receipt of the letter with reference number SGA.710/T/40 was acknowledged by the office of the chief judge on the same day at about 3:16pm.
In the letter, titled, “Request for the constitution of a special court for offences relating to cultism and kidnapping,” the SSG said the request was necessitated by the governor’s unwavering commitment to tackling and eradicating the menace of cultism and kidnapping in the state, as well as strengthening the administration of criminal justice.
The letter also requested the Chief Judge to nominate three judges or such numbers as he may deem fit, to constitute the special criminal court.