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Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, on Thursday, 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.

Shortly afterward, the defendant emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he had fallen while attempting to hang a banner.

‘The deceased was never seen alive again.

On 26th December, 2020, a day after Christmas, Edward’s decomposing body was discovered in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple lacerations.

A butcher’s knife was found beside him.

”The defendant, being the last person seen with Edward and possessing unexplained bloodstains while having repeated access to the premises, was promptly arrested and charged with murder.

The defendant was arraigned on 6th December, 2021, on a one-count charge of murder.

He pleaded not guilty.

To establish its case, the prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father, Emana Bassey Edward, who testified as the first prosecution witness (PW1).

PW1 told the court that shortly after the church began operations, the defendant requested permission to store church chairs and other items inside the deceased’s flat for security reasons, as the hall lacked doors and windows.

The request was granted.

However, the arrangement soon became problematic.

Whenever the defendant needed access to church property kept in the flat, the deceased, often away, had to return home to grant access, incurring transport expenses that were not refunded.

Following complaints, PW1 directed his son to give the defendant a spare key to ease access.

The prosecution led evidence that after the key was handed over, items belonging to the deceased’s late mother, including clothes, plates and other valuables, began to go missing.

The defendant, being in possession of the spare key, became a suspect.

When confronted, the defendant claimed he had lost the key.

The matter was reported to the church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Etuk Akpan, who testified as a defence witness, who provided N5,000 to enable the deceased change the locks.

According to evidence before the court, no further items went missing after the locks were changed.

Tensions later arose between the deceased and the defendant over the handling of rent money reportedly paid for the use of the hall and intended for repairs.

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.

The court found that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In sentencing the defendant, Justice Ette condemned the act, noting the irony of a religious leader taking a life within church premises.

“Life is sacred and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is an irony and quite appalling when a man who claims to be the representative of the divine on earth stoops so low as to denigrate the very essence of his calling and take someone’s life in the premises of the church.” Justice Ette held.

He further stated that individuals who betray public trust in such a manner, pose a danger to society and must face the full weight of the law.

“Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” the court held.