Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 26-year-old man, David Isaiah, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a commercial sex worker, Comfort James, whom he killed by forcefully administering herbicide after kidnapping her.
Presided over by Justice Lekan Olatawura, the court found the accused guilty on three counts: conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder—offences which violate Sections 280, 279(a), and 234 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.
The charge sheet presented by the prosecution stated that David Isaiah and his accomplice, Savior Daniel (who reportedly died during trial on February 6, 2024), had on the day of the crime conspired to abduct Comfort James. The young woman was said to have contacted her colleagues via phone after her abduction, informing them that she had been held hostage and that her captors were demanding N100,000 for her release.
According to testimonies presented in court, the Director of Afrika Brothel, located in the Irona area of Ado Ekiti, took immediate action by reporting the incident to the police and civil defence authorities. Following a swift investigation, the suspects were tracked and apprehended. During interrogation, they led law enforcement officers to the site where Comfort James’s lifeless body was dumped.
In the course of the trial, Prosecutor Ibironke Odetola called six witnesses and submitted various exhibits to establish the defendant's guilt. These included statements made by the defendant, photographs of the deceased, burial authorization documents, footwear, SIM cards, and the container of herbicide used in the murder.
In his own testimony, the defendant admitted that after engaging in sexual activity with the victim, they used her phone to contact her colleagues and demand ransom. When the ransom failed to materialize, the duo bound her hands and neck. Fearing identification, they forced her to ingest herbicide, leading to her death.
The defense presented no witnesses or evidence to counter the charges.
Delivering judgment, Justice Olatawura ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that the actions of the defendant were inhumane and undeserving of any form of leniency.
Consequently, the court sentenced David Isaiah to:
- 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy,
- Life imprisonment for kidnapping, and
- Death by hanging for the murder of Comfort James.
Justice Olatawura concluded with the words: “May God have mercy on your soul.”
