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Court sentences Living Faith Pastor To D3ath By Hanging
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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.
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday ordered the unconditional release of Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo and other detained leaders of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement application, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa granted the order while ruling on a motion filed on May 4, 2026.
The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/42/2024: Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo & Ors v. Federal Government of Nigeria & Ors, also has July 13, 2026, fixed for continuation of hearing on the substantive matter.
The court had earlier ordered that the detained persons be produced before it, a directive which was reportedly not complied with by the military authorities.
Counsel to the applicants, Dr. Jonathan Ekperusi, appeared alongside Andrew Ubido, Esq., while Magdalene Irorere held brief for the 3rd and 5th respondents during the proceedings.
Following the ruling, members of the Okuama community expressed relief and joy over the court’s decision.
Victor Akemor, speaking on behalf of some community members, described the ruling as a welcome development.
“This is great news. Finally, we have reason to celebrate. The court is indeed the hope of the common man,” he said.
He also called on the Delta State Government to assist in facilitating the implementation of the court order and commended community leaders and legal representatives for their efforts.
The detained individuals, including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, President General of Ewu Kingdom; Chief Belvis Adogbo; Dennis Malaka; and Mabel Owhemu, have been in custody for nearly two years.
One of the detainees, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died while in detention.
The Okuama leaders were arrested by military personnel between August 18 and 19, 2024, following the killing of 17 soldiers near the community.
More than 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in Ethiopia may soon be transferred to Nigeria as both countries conclude arrangements for a prisoner transfer agreement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, arrived in Addis Ababa for the signing of the pact alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The Nigerian delegation was received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the country’s Chief of Protocol.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the agreement is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday.
She disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the lengthy process of negotiations, judicial reviews and ratification of the agreement.
“We cannot afford to lose any more precious lives. We are determined to bring home the living,” she stated in a post on her X handle.
The minister identified Kaliti Prison and Aba Samuel Prison as the facilities where the affected Nigerians are being held.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the agreement as a product of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Ethiopia, anchored on humanitarian considerations, justice and bilateral cooperation.
She said that while the Nigerian government continues to urge its citizens abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and protect the nation’s image, it remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians facing legal challenges overseas are treated fairly and in accordance with established legal frameworks.
The minister added that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
She also expressed appreciation to the Ethiopian government for its cooperation in bringing the agreement to fruition.
A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday rescheduled further hearing for June 24 in the post-conviction proceedings being conducted in the N33.8 bilion case involving former Power Minister Saleh Mamman.
By the court’s schedule, a lawyer to Mamman, Mohammed Ahmed, is to appear to explain some aspects of an affidavit he filed, in which he made some allegations against the trial judge.
Yesterday’s adjournment was informed by the claim by another lawyer, Suleiman Yakubu that Ahmed was indisposed.
The court had on May 7 convicted Mamman on all 12-count charged on which he was prosecuted and sentenced him to 75 years imprisonment in absentia.
Upon an order for his arrest and production, the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended him somewhere in Kaduna and presented him before the court on May 26.
The court directed that he should be committed to the Kuje prison where he is must serve his sentence.
Also on May 26, the prosecution informed the court about its motion for the forfeiture of some recently discovered assets allegedly acquired unlawfully by Mamman.
But, before the application could be heard, lawyer to the defendant exited the court without the notice, a development that informed an adjournment till June 8.
The recently discovered assets, according to court documents filed by the EFCC, include: Walijam Apartments, located on No.43, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited, located at No 5, Amana Crescent, New Estate Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State.
They include a mansion on No 11, Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; a mansion on No 13, Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja and A.U.A. Plaza, situated on Plot 734, Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
On June 8, lawyer to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN) reminded the court that the business of the day for hearing of the prosecution’s motion for consequential order to forfeit some properties belonging to the convict (Mamman).
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho drew Oyedepo’s attention to a counter affidavit filed for the defendant, but which was deposed to by his other lawyer, Ahmed, who, in the affidavit, allegedly claimed that the judgment delivered on May 7 was done when the judge “became enraged.”
Oyedepo claimed not to have been served with the affidavit, following which Justice Omotosho ordered, who Yakubu, who appeared for Mamman, to give a copy to the prosecuting lawyer.
Justice Omotosho directed Ahmed, who deposed to the affidavit, should appear before his court on May 10 to provide explanation in relation to some of his averments in the affidavit he deposed to.
Ahmed was absent on May 10. Yakubu, who also appeared for the defendant, claimed Ahmed was ill.
Yakubu, who apologised for the manner he left the court on the previous date, claimed that Ahmed has been ill for some time, saying: “He has been coughing, and we don’t know if it is tuberculosis because the cough has defiled all drugs.”
He further claimed that Ahmed has gone to his village for treatment and urged the court to adjourn further hearing till the following week.
At that point, Justice Omotosho sought to know how Yakubu came to the conclusion that Ahmed suffered from tuberculosis.
Responding, Yabuku said it was because Ahmed had taken drugs and his ailments persisted, a response, that prompted prosecuting lawyer to express disappointment with the attitude of the defence lawyers.
Oyedepo said: “This is what we kept complaining about. We are counsel in the temple of justice my Lord. I don’t know when I started experiencing a bitter part of my colleagues in this matter.
“I don’t think this is proper. As it stands now, our motion is ripe for hearing.”
Oyedepo, who accused the defendant of deploying dilatory tactics, said: “these tactics will not work,” following which he agreed to an adjournment.
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