IFEANYI ABANOBI V. THE STATE

JOHN INYANG OKORO, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Judicial Division (hereinafter referred to as the “lower court”), delivered on the 29th day of March, 2021. The lower court, in its judgment, affirmed the verdict of the High Court of Abia State, Isuikwua to Judicial Division (hereinafter referred to as the “trial court”). At the trial court, the appellant was convicted and sentenced to death for the offence of kidnapping contrary to section 3 of the Abia State Prohibition of Terrorism, Kidnapping, Hostage Taking, Use of Offensive Weapon or Explosives and other Threatening Behaviour Law, No. 10 of 2009.

To cast light on the appellant’s culpability at the trial court, the prosecution called four witnesses. The gravamen of the prosecution’s case, as presented before the trial court, was that the appellant, Ifeanyi Abanobi, acting in concert with his co-accused on the 26th day of October, 2014, kidnapped and t…