An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 26-year-old David Isaiah to death by hanging for the abduction and murder of a sex worker, Comfort James.
The court found Isaiah guilty of three charges—conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder—following a trial in which disturbing details of the crime were revealed.
He was convicted alongside his late associate, Saviour Daniel, who died before the conclusion of the trial.
According to the case presented by the prosecution, Isaiah and Daniel abducted the victim on February 6, 2024.
After luring her, they tied her up and used her phone to contact her colleagues, falsely claiming she had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of ₦100,000.
When the ransom failed to materialize, and fearing she would identify them, they forced her to ingest herbicide, resulting in her death.
The incident was reported after colleagues at the Afrika Brothel in Irona, Ado Ekiti, raised concerns over her sudden disappearance.
Their suspicions led to police involvement and tracking of the suspects, which eventually resulted in Isaiah’s arrest.
During the proceedings, the prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, called multiple witnesses and presented key exhibits, including Isaiah’s confession, items belonging to the deceased, and the toxic substance used in the killing.
Isaiah, who opted to testify without any supporting witnesses, admitted to participating in the crime, revealing that the decision to kill Comfort was made after realizing she had seen their faces.
In his judgment, Justice Olalekan Olatawura concluded that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced Isaiah to 21 years in prison for conspiracy, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and death by hanging for murder.
“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged,” the judge said. “For conspiracy, he shall serve 21 years in prison; for kidnapping, he is sentenced to life imprisonment; and for murder, the sentence is death by hanging. May God have mercy on your soul.”