Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a 29-year-old Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, Uyo, Prince Emmanuel Umoh to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
The judge, Justice Gabriel Ette convicted the pastor for stabbing to death, Edward, a 500-level Civil engineering student whose academic result, released posthumously, showed he graduated with First Class honours.
From the facts of the case made available, the deceased, a student of University of Uyo had relocated to his late mother’s property at Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the estate and live closer to school.
His mother, before her death in December 2019, had established a nursery school on the property.
Evidence before the court showed that Edward lived in a two-bedroom flat attached to a long hall within the compound alongside his younger brother, Emmanuel Edward Bassey.
The hall, originally constructed for school purposes, was later rented to Living Faith Church for worship activities at an annual rent of N150,000, with the consent of his father, Emana Bassey Edward, a retired school principal.
The church was allowed to commence use of the hall, even before full payment of rent.
Prince Emmanuel Umoh was subsequently posted to the branch as its pioneer resident pastor.
Evidence presented in court revealed that on 21st December, 2020, the defendant was seen entering the deceased’s compound.
Neighbours later reported hearing loud screams of Jesus from inside the premises.
In a detailed and emotionally charged judgment read for over two hours, Justice Gabriel Ette described the case as very sympathetic, recounting the efforts of the deceased’s late mother to build and develop the property for educational purposes before her death.
In sentencing the defendant, Justice Ette condemned the act, noting the irony of a religious leader taking a life within church premises.
Credit:ITV
