A 26-year-old man, David Isaiah, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court of Ekiti State, Ado Ekiti Division, for the kidnapping and murder of a sex worker, Comfort James.
Isaiah faced three charges: conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder. His accomplice, Saviour Daniel, who was jointly charged, died while the trial was ongoing. After reviewing the evidence, the court convicted Isaiah on all counts.
Justice Olalekan Olatawura delivered the verdict, sentencing Isaiah to 21 years in prison for conspiracy, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and the death penalty for murder.
According to the prosecution, led by Ibironke Odetola, the crimes took place on February 6, 2024, in Ado Ekiti. The offenses were said to violate Sections 280, 279(a), and 234 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021. Isaiah was formally arraigned on April 18, 2024.
The manager of a local brothel in Irona, Ado Ekiti, testified that James had gone missing after calling her colleagues to say she had been abducted and that the kidnappers were demanding a ₦100,000 ransom. Authorities were alerted, and security operatives traced the suspects through their phone records.
Upon arrest, Isaiah led investigators to where the victim’s body had been abandoned. During the trial, the prosecution submitted key evidence, including Isaiah’s confession, photos of the deceased, a burial permit, SIM cards, a pair of slippers, and the herbicide used in the murder.
In court, Isaiah admitted he and his friend had restrained the victim and used her phone to contact her associates for ransom. When the money wasn’t paid and fearing they would be identified, they forced her to ingest a poisonous substance, leading to her death. Isaiah chose not to call any witnesses in his defense.
Justice Olatawura ruled that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, stating, “There is no basis for leniency. The evidence is clear and compelling.” He then pronounced the sentences: 21 years for conspiracy, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and death by hanging for murder.
