An Ekiti State High Court, siting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one David Isaiah to death by hanging for kidnapping and murder of a commercial sex worker.
The 26-year old convict was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Lekan Olatawura on 18th April, 2024 on three-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and murder.
Isaiah was also sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy and life imprisonment for kidnapping.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, are contrary to section 280, 279 (a) and 234 of the criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
The defendant had told the court that he and his late accomplice poured herbicide into the mouth of their victims which lead to her death.
The charge reads that, “The defendant and Saviour Daniel who died during the pendency of the case on 6th of February, 2024 in Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to kidnap and murder one Comfort James, a commercial sex worker”.
The Director of Afrika Brothel Irona, Ado Ekiti, in his testimony before the court, said, “I was called by other commercial sex workers in the brothel, that they have not seen the deceased since yesterday, and also said, she had called to inform them that she had been kidnapped by some people who tied her hands and demanding 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 later arrested, they took the Civil Defence Officers to where they killed and dumped her dead body”, he concluded.
The prosecutor, Ibironke Odetola called six witnesses and tendered defendants statements, pictures of the deceased, warrant to bury corpse, a pair of slippers, sim cards and herbicide as exhibits to prove his case.
Speaking in his own defence, the convict told the court that, “after having sex with the deceased, they used her number to call her colleagues that she had been kidnapped and demanded for a ransom of N100, 000.
“Her hands and neck were tied when the ransom was not forth coming and when we discovered she had seen our faces clearly and to avoid been implicated, we poured the herbicide in her mouth and she later died.”
Delivering his judgment, Justice Olatawura said the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant conspired with his late friend (Saviour Daniel) to kidnap and murder Comfort James.
“Consequence upon the foregoing, 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 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 be dead, may God have mercy on your soul”, the judge pronounced.
