The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four people to death over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market area, off Airport Road, Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on an 11-count charge involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms, according to Channels Television.
The convicts are Marvelous Isaac, 32; Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Emete Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court, established by the Edo State Government to handle cases relating to kidnapping and cultism, found the defendants guilty on several counts and imposed varying prison terms and death sentences.
The case followed an incident in which the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, was reportedly abducted while she was at the market with her husband and children.
The incident was later confirmed by the Edo State Police Command after a witness shared an account of the incident online.
During the trial, the court also ordered the confiscation of a pump-action rifle and four cartridges recovered in connection with the case. The items are to be handed over to the Edo State Police Command for destruction in accordance with the court’s directive.
The judgment included seven-year prison terms on one of the counts against each defendant, alongside death sentences on specified counts. Additional prison terms were also imposed on some of the convicts.
The court subsequently declared the sentences as its judgment in the case.
