A Special High Court sitting in Benin has convicted and sentenced four men to death for kidnapping and other related offences.
The convicts, Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Raphael, were found guilty of kidnapping a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City
They were tried on an 11-count charge bordering on kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms. The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, is the maiden judgment of the Special Criminal Court on kidnapping.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Aigbona Momodu said the law left him with no discretion in imposing the prescribed sentences.
“My hands are tied under the law. I wish the law would 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.
Justice Momodu sentenced Isaac to seven years imprisonment on count one, death by hanging or lethal injection on counts two to nine, 10 years imprisonment on count 10 and life imprisonment on count 11.
Wisdom Michael bagged 7 years on count one and death on counts two to nine; Rufus Emete Michael, 7 years on count one and death on counts two, three, four, six and seven; while Gift Raphael got 7 years on count one and death on counts two, four, six and eight.
The court also ordered the confiscation of a JoJef pump-action firearm and four cartridges tendered as exhibits.