Supreme Court upholds death sentence for Delta kidnapper in 2014 abduction case

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the death sentence by hanging imposed on a convicted kidnapper, Chelynor Halim, bringing an end to years of legal proceedings over a 2014 abduction case in Delta State.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court, the justices dismissed Halim’s appeal, ruling that it lacked merit and affirming the decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

The case originated from the February 9, 2014 abduction of Joan Osemene in Delta State. Court records showed that Halim and others intercepted the victim and took her to an undisclosed location in the Ibusa area.

During the incident, the victim was reportedly assaulted and robbed of ₦10,000, while her ATM card was used to withdraw an additional ₦55,000 from her account. She was later abandoned at another location.

In a dramatic turn of events, the victim managed to escape and flagged down a commercial motorcyclist for help, who was later identified as one of her alleged attackers. She raised an alarm, leading to his immediate arrest by bystanders.

Following his arrest, Halim was handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS). Information obtained during interrogation reportedly led security operatives to the gang’s hideout, where the group’s leader was later killed in a confrontation with law enforcement.

A High Court in Asaba, Delta State, had earlier convicted Halim in 2017 for kidnapping and armed robbery, sentencing him to death.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme held that the prosecution had sufficiently proven Halim’s involvement in the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

With the dismissal of Appeal No. SC/CR/913/2022, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts’ rulings and effectively concluded the long-running case.