The Supreme Court on Friday, June 5, upheld the death sentence by hanging imposed on a Delta State-based kidnapper, Chelynor Halim, bringing final closure to his long-running appeal.
In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed Halim’s appeal as lacking merit and affirmed the judgment of the lower courts.
A High Court in Asaba, Delta State, had earlier convicted him in 2017 after finding that the prosecution had successfully proved his involvement in armed robbery and kidnapping.
The court heard that Halim and members of his gang abducted one Joan Osemene on February 9, 2014, in Ibusa, Delta State, and took her to an undisclosed location.
During the attack, the convict was said to have assaulted the victim, slapped her and threatened her with a firearm before covering her nose with a substance that rendered her unconscious.
The gang leader, identified as Edozie Obude, was also said to have violently handled the victim while the group searched and dispossessed her of valuables, including an ATM card and N10,000 in cash.
The kidnappers subsequently used the ATM card to withdraw N55,000 from her bank account. The victim was later tied up and abandoned at another location but managed to free herself and escape to a nearby road, where she sought help.
In a twist of events, she reportedly boarded a motorcycle that was later found to be operated by one of her attackers. On recognising him, she raised the alarm, leading to his arrest by bystanders before he was handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
The suspect later led security operatives to his gang’s hideout, where a gun battle reportedly ensued, resulting in the death of the gang leader.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme held that the evidence against the appellant was credible and firmly established his participation in the crime. The court therefore dismissed appeal SC/CR/913/2022 and affirmed the sentence of death by hanging.
The ruling comes amid renewed concerns over rising cases of kidnapping across parts of the country, with recent attacks and abductions reported in several states. Authorities continue efforts to curb the trend and secure the release of victims still in captivity.