A Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has sentenced four men to death by hanging for kidnapping and membership of a secret cult.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Terry Momodu Aigbona after more than three hours of proceedings in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona convicted the four defendants and handed down the death sentences for their involvement in the offences.
The judge also found the alleged leader of the kidnapping syndicate, 32-year-old Isaac Marvellous, guilty on all 11 counts brought against him and sentenced him accordingly.
The judge ordered that the convicts be hanged to death or executed through the administration of lethal injection.
They were convicted on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes.
The other condemned persons are Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.
The court also handed down several jail terms to the suspects, while the firearms recovered from them as exhibits were ordered to be handed over to the Federal Government.
Further details of the judgment are expected.
