{
  "id": 10825430,
  "title": "Court sentences 4 to death for kidnapping, other offences in Edo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-other-offences-in-edo",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T01:12:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-other-offences-in-edo/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Edo State Special Criminal Court sentenced four men to death on Tuesday for their roles in a kidnapping case. The court's first judgment on a kidnapping case involved Marvellous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael, and Gift Raphael. The four defendants faced an 11-count charge involving kidnapping, conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms. Justice Aigbona Momodu, the presiding judge, stated that the law left him with no discretion in imposing the prescribed sentences, adding that he wished he had the flexibility to exercise his own judgment. Isaac received a seven-year imprisonment sentence for count one and death by hanging or lethal injection for counts two to nine, while Michael was sentenced to seven years for count one and death by hanging or lethal injection for counts two to nine. Emete Michael was given a seven-year imprisonment sentence for count one and death sentences for counts two, three, four, six, and seven. Finally, Raphael was sentenced to seven years for count one and death for counts two, four, six, and eight. The court also ordered the confiscation of a firearm and four cartridges, which were to be destroyed within 30 days.",
  "summary": "Justice Aigbona Momodu of the Edo State Special Criminal Court has sentenced four men to death on multiple counts for their involvement in the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City, Edo State. The judgment was delivered on Tuesday in the court’s maiden judgment in a kidnapping case. […] The post Court sentences 4 to death for kidnapping, other offences in…",
  "key_points": [
    "Four men sentenced to death for kidnapping in Edo State",
    "Charges included conspiracy, armed robbery, cultism, firearms possession",
    "Justice Aigbona Momodu imposed sentences without discretion"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10825430.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "Edo court sentences four to death for kidnapping, cult membership",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/edo-court-sentences-four-to-death-for-kidnapping-cult-membership",
        "published": "2026-09-29T21:25:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Four sentenced to death in Edo over kidnapping",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/four-sentenced-to-death-in-edo-over-kidnapping",
        "published": "2026-09-29T23:16:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Zubeen’s death: Court gives bail to two personal security officers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/zubeens-death-court-gives-bail-to-two-personal-security-officers",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:16:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Court sentences 4 to death for kidnapping, cultism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/court-sentences-4-to-death-for-kidnapping-cultism",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:41:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}