The Supreme Court has affirmed the death sentence by hanging imposed on a convicted kidnapper, Chelynor Halim, for his involvement in a kidnapping operation in Delta State.
In a unanimous ruling delivered by a five-member panel on Friday, the apex court dismissed Halim’s appeal, describing it as lacking merit and upholding the judgment of the lower courts.
The case stemmed from the abduction of Joan Osemene in February 2014. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Halim and his accomplices kidnapped the victim, robbed her of cash and her ATM card, and subsequently withdrew N55,000 from her bank account.
The victim later managed to escape from her captors and subsequently identified Halim, leading to his arrest and handover to security operatives.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, the Supreme Court held that the prosecution had sufficiently established the convict’s identity and participation in the crime.
The court ruled that the evidence presented during the trial clearly linked Halim to the kidnapping and armed robbery, leaving no basis to overturn the conviction.
Consequently, the Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence by hanging earlier imposed on the convict, bringing the lengthy legal battle to a close.
