The Supreme Court has affirmed the death sentence imposed on a convicted kidnapper, Chelynor Halim, bringing an end to his legal battle against the judgment delivered by lower courts.
In a unanimous ruling on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed Halim’s appeal, holding that it lacked merit and that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Halim was convicted by a Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba in 2017 for kidnapping and armed robbery.
Court records showed that he and members of his gang abducted a woman, Joan Osemene, on February 9, 2014, and took her to an undisclosed location in Ibusa, Delta State.
During the attack, the convict reportedly assaulted the victim, threatened her with a firearm and later rendered her unconscious by covering her nose with a substance-soaked cloth.
The prosecution identified the gang leader as Edozie Obude, who allegedly held the victim by the throat, struck her with a metal object and ordered members of the gang to search her belongings.
While testifying before the trial court, Osemene said the kidnappers stole her ATM card and N10,000 cash before withdrawing an additional N55,000 from her bank account.
She told the court that after her hands and legs were tied, she was moved to another location where she was eventually abandoned by her captors.
According to her testimony, she later managed to free herself and ran until she reached a major road in search of help.
In a twist of events, the victim flagged down a motorcyclist, only to recognise him as one of the kidnappers. She immediately raised an alarm, attracting passersby who apprehended the suspect and handed him over to operatives of the Department of State Services.
Investigations that followed led security operatives to the gang’s hideout after the suspect provided useful information.
A gun battle between security operatives and members of the gang subsequently resulted in the death of the gang leader, Obude.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme held that the prosecution had presented credible and convincing evidence linking Halim to the kidnapping and robbery.
The court ruled that the evidence placed the appellant at the scene of the crime and clearly established his active participation in the offences.
Consequently, the apex court dismissed Appeal No. SC/CR/913/2022 and affirmed the death sentence by hanging earlier imposed on the convict.
