The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the death sentence by hanging imposed on a convicted Delta State kidnapper, Chelynor Halim, bringing to a close his appeal against the judgment of the lower courts.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court dismissed Halim's appeal, marked SC/CR/913/2022, describing it as lacking merit.

Halim was convicted in 2017 by a High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, after the prosecution established his involvement in a kidnapping and armed robbery incident that occurred on February 9, 2014.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Halim and members of his gang abducted Joan Osemene and took her to an undisclosed location in Ibusa, Delta State. The victim testified that she was assaulted, threatened with a firearm, and rendered unconscious after a substance-soaked cloth was placed over her nose.

The court heard that the gang, led by Edozie Obude, also robbed Osemene of her ATM card and N10,000 cash. The abductors subsequently withdrew N55,000 from her bank account using the stolen card.

Osemene further told the court that her hands and legs were bound before she was abandoned at another location. After managing to free herself, she escaped and made her way to a major road in search of help.

In a dramatic turn of events, the victim flagged down a commercial motorcyclist for assistance, only to discover that he was one of her abductors. She immediately raised an alarm, prompting bystanders to apprehend the suspect before he could flee.

Following his arrest, Halim was handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS). Investigators later used information obtained from him to locate the gang's hideout. A subsequent operation led to a gun battle during which the gang leader, Obude, was killed.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt the appellant's participation in the crimes. The court found that the evidence presented at trial, including the victim's identification of the convict, conclusively placed him at the scene of the offences.

"The identity of the appellant as one of the perpetrators was not in doubt," the court held, affirming both the conviction and the sentence imposed by the trial court.

The judgment comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over kidnapping and violent crime across Nigeria, as security agencies continue efforts to curb a wave of abductions in several parts of the country.

Recent incidents include the abduction of pupils and teachers in parts of Oyo and Borno states, underscoring the continuing security challenges facing the nation. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure the release of those still being held captive.