A court has sentenced a man to death for kidnapping and armed robbery in Anambra

Justice Sylvester Odili of the Anambra State High Court, Onitsha, on Thursday sentenced one Kosisochukwu Celestine to death by hanging for kidnapping and armed robbery.

The judge, in his ruling, stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt through eyewitness statements, bank records, documentary evidence and other independent evidence.

The prosecution told the court that Celestine and his gang members attacked Chukwudi Collins at gunpoint in Fegge, Onitsha, on August 6, 2022.

Prosecutors also revealed that the gang kidnapped the victim, injured him and forced him to transfer about N6.7 million from his bank account while being held hostage.

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It added that the gang also took the victim’s vehicle and other valuables before holding him hostage for about a day and then abandoning him.

During the trial, prosecutors, led by Chief State Counsel, Ekwerekwu Uchenna, called three witnesses and presented several pieces of evidence, including bank records showing payments made prior to the victim’s release.

The defense, who called two witnesses, questioned the admissibility of the defendant’s confessional statement on the grounds that it was not in accordance with Section 14 of the Anambra State Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJL) Law, 2022, which mandates video recording of confessional statements.