An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced 26-year-old David Isaiah to death by hanging for the murder of Comfort James, a commercial sex worker, in a ruling delivered on Monday by Justice Olalekan Olatawura.
Isaiah was convicted on three counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder, stemming from the brutal killing of James on February 6, 2024, in Ado Ekiti. In addition to the death penalty for murder, Isaiah received life imprisonment for kidnapping and 21 years for conspiracy.
The prosecution, led by Ibironke Odetola, presented evidence that Isaiah, alongside his deceased accomplice Saviour Daniel, kidnapped James and demanded a N100,000 ransom. When the ransom was not paid, the defendants, fearing identification, tied James’ hands and neck before forcing her to ingest herbicide, resulting in her death.
Testimony from the Director of Afrika Brothel in Irona, Ado Ekiti, revealed that James had alerted colleagues of her abduction before going missing. Police and Civil Defence tracked the suspects’ phone lines, leading to Isaiah’s arrest and the discovery of James’ body at a location disclosed by the defendant.
Odetola submitted compelling evidence, including Isaiah’s confessional statement, photographs of the deceased, a pair of slippers, SIM cards, and a bottle of herbicide. Isaiah, who called no witnesses in his defense, admitted to the crime during the trial.
Justice Olatawura, in his ruling, declared that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, stating, “Any sympathetic consideration in favor of the defendant cannot be justified.” He sentenced Isaiah to death, concluding, “You be hanged until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”
The case, prosecuted under Sections 280, 279(a), and 234 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021, marks a significant ruling in the state’s efforts to address violent crime.
