Man to die by hanging for kidnapping, killing Ekiti sex worker
5th May 2025
By Abiodun Ogunniyi,
In a significant ruling, a 26-year-old man named David Isaiah has been sentenced to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of Comfort James, a commercial sex worker. The decision was made by an Ekiti State High Court in the Ado Ekiti Division on Monday. Isaiah faced charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder, which he committed alongside his late accomplice, Saviour Daniel, who passed away during the trial.
The court found Isaiah guilty on three counts related to the crimes, with the judge imposing a death sentence for the murder charge. Additionally, he received a life sentence for kidnapping and a 21-year prison term for conspiracy.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Ibironke Odetola, detailed how Isaiah and Daniel conspired to kidnap James. According to testimonies, James had informed her colleagues that she had been kidnapped and that a ransom of N100,000 was being demanded. Following this report, law enforcement tracked the suspects' phone lines, leading to their arrest. Evidence presented included statements from witnesses, photographs of the deceased, and items linked to the crime, such as herbicide.
Isaiah, in his defense, admitted to the crime, revealing that after engaging with James, he and Daniel decided to call her colleagues under the pretense of a kidnapping to extort money. He recounted that when the ransom was not paid and fearing identification, they forced herbicide into her mouth, leading to her death.
Justice Olalekan Olatawura delivered the judgment, stating that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He emphasized that any consideration for leniency was unwarranted given the severity of the crime. The judge concluded with a solemn declaration of Isaiah's sentence, expressing hope for divine mercy on his soul.
This case highlights ongoing issues surrounding violence against women and the legal system's response to such heinous acts in Nigeria.