Justice Lekan Olatawura of Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced 26-year-old David Isaiah to death by hanging for conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Olatawura on 18th April 2024 on three counts: conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder.

According to the prosecutor, the offences are contrary to sections 280, 279 (a), and 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The charge states that the defendant and Saviour Daniel, who died during the pendency of the case on February 6, 2024 in Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired to kidnap and murder one Comfort James, a commercial sex worker.

In his testimony before the court, the Director of Afrika Brothel Irona, Ado Ekiti, said, “I was called by other commercial sex workers in the brothel, who said they had not seen the deceased since yesterday. They also mentioned that she had called to inform them that she had been kidnapped, had her hands tied, and was being held for a ransom of N100,000.”

“I went and reported the matter at the police station and later at the Civil Defence office. Their telephone lines were tracked, and they were arrested. They took the Civil Defence Officers to where they killed and dumped her dead body.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola, called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, pictures of the deceased, a warrant to bury the corpse, a pair of slippers, SIM cards, and herbicide as exhibits.

The defendant, who spoke in his own defense, told the court, “After having sex with the deceased, we used her number to call her colleagues, telling them she had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of N100,000.

“Her hands and neck were tied when the ransom did not come through. When we realised she had seen our faces clearly and to avoid being implicated, we poured herbicide in her mouth, and she later died.”

He called no witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Olatawura said, “I therefore find that the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant conspired with his late friend (Saviour Daniel) to kidnap and murder Comfort James. Consequently, the defendant is found guilty as charged.

“Any sympathetic consideration in favour of the defendant cannot, therefore, be justified by the deceased.

“Consequently, the defendant is sentenced to 21 years of imprisonment for conspiracy, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and for murder, the judgment of this court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”