Nigeria, Sept. 29 -- A Special Criminal Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has sentenced four men to death by hanging for kidnapping, cultism and other violent offences.

The convicts were sentenced by Justice Terry Momodu Aigbona after more than three hours of delivering judgment on the 11-count charge against them.

The court found the alleged leader of the kidnapping syndicate, 32-year-old Isaac Marvellous, guilty on all 11 counts and sentenced him to death.

Peter Obi Justice Aigbona, who reportedly shed tears while delivering the judgment, ordered that the convicts be executed either by hanging or lethal injection.

The other condemned men are Wisdom Michael, 36; Rufus Michael, 30; and Gift Raphael, 27.

The court also imposed ...