An Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four persons to death for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market, off Airport Road, Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu delivered the judgment on Tuesday after finding the four defendants guilty of various counts involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicts were identified as Marvellous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Gift Raphael, 27.
The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was reportedly at the market with her husband and children when gunmen abducted her. The incident was later confirmed by the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer.
During the trial, the prosecution called seven witnesses, while the defendants did not call any witnesses. The court also admitted exhibits recovered from the suspects, including a pump action rifle and four cartridges.
The court handed down death sentences on specified counts against each of the four convicts, while also imposing prison terms on some other counts.
Following the judgment, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olayiwola Afolabi, appealed to the Edo State Government not to immediately execute the convicts, urging that they be allowed to exercise their right to appeal within the stipulated period.
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