Judges and legal practitioners in Edo State have declared full support for Governor Monday Okpebholo’s intensified campaign against cultism and kidnapping.
According to Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fred Itua, the endorsement came during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, at the Government House, Benin City, where Governor Okpebholo received the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, alongside a delegation of judges and legal professionals.
Governor Okpebholo, while commending the judiciary for its cooperation, stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the executive and judicial arms to tackle insecurity. He reiterated his administration’s firm stance against cult-related violence and kidnapping, which he described as significant threats to public safety and economic progress.
“There is a fight against cultism, and I am taking it very seriously. I need your cooperation,” the Governor said, highlighting the impact of crime on investor confidence and community well-being.
His remarks follow the enactment of two key laws earlier this year: the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, and the Kidnapping Prohibition (Amendment) Law, 2025. These laws prescribe tough penalties—including a 10-year jail term for harbouring cultists, 21 years for cult-related violence, and the death penalty for kidnappers whose victims die.
Governor Okpebholo also pledged to strengthen the judiciary through recruitment and improved support, responding to concerns raised by Chief Judge Okungbowa about brain drain and staff shortages within the state’s justice system.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from both arms of government to uphold the rule of law and restore safety and order across Edo State.
