The Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death for kidnapping a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City.
Justice Aigbona Momodu handed down the sentences after finding the defendants guilty on multiple counts.
The convicts are Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael.
Isaac and Michael were sentenced to death on counts two to nine. They also received seven years imprisonment on count one, while Isaac bagged an additional 10 years on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Rufus Emete Michael was sentenced to death on counts two, three, four, six and seven, in addition to seven years imprisonment on count one.
Gift Raphael was sentenced to death on counts two, four, six and eight and also got seven years imprisonment on count one.
Delivering judgment, Justice Momodu ordered that the death sentences be carried out by hanging or lethal injection.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of a JoJef pump-action firearm and ammunition tendered as exhibits during the trial.
The firearm, marked as Exhibit M, along with two unused cartridges and two spent cartridges marked as Exhibits E and E1, is to be handed over to the Edo State Police Armourer at the State Criminal Investigation Department for destruction.
Justice Momodu directed that the exhibits be transferred to the police through the Deputy Director of the Criminal Division and destroyed within 30 days.
