Four men were sentenced to death on several counts by Justice Aigbona Momodu of the Edo State Special Criminal Court for their roles in the abduction of a woman at the Vegetable Market on Airport Road in Benin City, Edo State.

The court's first ruling in a kidnapping case was handed down on Tuesday.

The 11-count charge against the four defendants—Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael, and Gift Raphael—bordered on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Justice Momodu stated during the ruling that he had no discretion in imposing the prescribed sentences because of the law.

“My hands are tied under the law. I wish I have the law permit me to exercise my discretion. I would have, but my hands are tied. I will just impose the sentence as prescribed by the law,” the judge said.

Isaac was sentenced by the judge to seven years in prison for count one, death by hanging or lethal injection for counts two through nine, ten years in prison for count ten, and life in prison for count eleven.

On count one, Michael received a seven-year prison sentence; on counts two through nine, he was sentenced to death by hanging or lethal injection.

On count one, Emete Michael was sentenced to seven years in prison; on counts two, three, four, six, and seven, he was given the death penalty.

On count one, Raphael received a seven-year prison sentence; on counts two, four, six, and eight, he was given the death penalty.

Source