An Onitsha High Court in Anambra State has sentenced a man, Kosisochukwu Celestine, to death by hanging for armed robbery and kidnapping in Fegge, Onitsha, in August 2022.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the judgment comes days after two other men received death sentences for kidnapping in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The presiding judge, Justice Sylvester Odili, of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha delivered the sentence after finding Celestine guilty of attacking a victim, Chukwudi Collins, at gunpoint.
According to court records presented during the trial, Celestine was part of an armed gang that assaulted Mr. Collins at gunpoint, stole his vehicle and valuables, and abducted him.
The prosecution told the Court that the victim was held hostage for about 24 hours and forced to transfer approximately N6.7 million from his bank account while in captivity.
Justice Odili ruled that the prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel, Mr. Ekwerekwu Uchenna, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt using eyewitness testimonies, bank records, and documentary exhibits.
The prosecution presented three witnesses and transaction logs showing payments made before the victim’s release, according to court proceedings.
The judge noted that the convict evaded arrest for about six months before security operatives tracked him to Enugu State and later apprehended him in Onitsha.
During the trial, Celestine had initially made a confessional statement but later retracted it.
The defence team, which presented two witnesses, challenged the statement and argued it did not comply with Section 14 of the Anambra State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.
Section 14 of the ACJL requires video recording of all confessional statements. Justice Odili expunged the document from court records because it lacked the mandatory video verification.
The court based its conviction on independent evidence including financial records and eyewitness accounts, without relying on the retracted confession.
The judge affirmed that the prosecution established the charges of armed robbery and kidnapping beyond reasonable doubt under Anambra State Criminal Law.
The convict, Celestine, has the constitutional right to appeal the death sentence at the Court of Appeal. Anambra judicial authorities said the ruling reinforces compliance with ACJL guidelines on video-recorded confessions.
The recent judgments have shown that the judiciary was not ready to spare those who commit such crimes in Anambra State.