A Lagos court has sentenced two men to death for kidnapping, with one of the convicts already missing after he jumped bail during his trial. Chidozie Obinna, the first defendant, was not in court when Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye handed down the sentence at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday. Obinna had absconded while on bail, abandoning his defence partway through the proceedings. The court convicted him in absentia, meaning the trial continued and concluded without him present. The second defendant was also sentenced to death, though details of that conviction remain unclear from available court records. Kidnapping remains one of Nigeria's most serious crimes, and courts have consistently imposed capital punishment on those convicted of the offence. The death sentence reflects the severity with which the Nigerian justice system treats crimes involving the abduction and unlawful detention of persons. Obinna's decision to flee while on bail suggests he anticipated an unfavourable outcome, a move that typically worsens a defendant's legal standing. By jumping bail, he forfeited the chance to mount a direct defence in his presence and effectively admitted his inability to answer the charges through continued participation in court. The Lagos court system has been active in prosecuting kidnapping cases as the crime continues to plague the state and other parts of the country. Whether Obinna remains at large or is eventually apprehended and executed remains unknown. The court has likely issued a bench warrant for his arrest, making it a matter of time before security agencies track him down. His conviction and sentencing, even in absentia, stands as a legal judgment that can be enforced once he is found.
Court sentences two men to death for kidnapping
