{
  "id": 10690433,
  "title": "BREAKING: Edo court sentences four to death for kidnapping, cultism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/breaking-edo-court-sentences-four-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T12:23:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/29/edo-court-sentences-four-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An Edo State High Court in Benin City has pronounced a death penalty by hanging for four individuals accused of kidnapping and involvement in a secret cult. The Special Criminal Court, led by Justice Terry Momodu Aigbona, delivered a judgment that spanned over three hours in Benin City. Justice Aigbona, visibly emotional during the sentencing, found the gang leader, Isaac Marvellous, 32, guilty on all 11 charges and consequently sentenced him to death. The convicts were convicted on an 11-count charge encompassing kidnapping, cultism, and various violent offenses. The other defendants are Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27. The court also imposed additional jail terms on the suspects, and the firearms seized from them were ordered to be transferred to the Federal Government. More details of the judgment are anticipated.",
  "summary": "An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for kidnapping and membership of a secret cult. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Justice Terry Momodu Aigbona, sentenced the four kidnappers to death by hanging after a judgment that lasted more than three hours in Benin […] BREAKING: Edo court sentences four to death for kidnapping, cultism",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Four kidnappers sentenced to death in Edo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/four-kidnappers-sentenced-to-death-in-edo",
        "published": "2026-09-29T12:40:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Court sentences four to death over kidnapping in Edo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/court-sentences-four-to-death-over-kidnapping-in-edo",
        "published": "2026-09-29T13:26:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}