An Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo on Thursday sentenced 29-year-old Emmanuel Umoh, resident pastor of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord Gabriel Edward.
Justice Gabriel Ette delivered the judgment, finding Mr. Umoh guilty of stabbing Edward to death on December 21, 2020.
Mr. Edward, a 500-level Civil Engineering student at the University of Uyo, had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the estate and live closer to school.
Part of the compound, previously used as a nursery school established by his late mother, was rented to the church at an annual fee of N150,000 with his father’s consent.
Evidence presented showed that on the day of the incident, Umoh was seen entering the compound.
Neighbours reported hearing loud screams from inside.
Umoh later emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he had fallen while hanging a banner.
Edward was not seen alive again. His decomposing body was discovered on December 26, 2020, in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple lacerations. A butcher’s knife was found beside him.
The prosecution told the court that Umoh had been given a spare key to Edward’s flat to access church property stored there.
Following missing items and disputes over rent payments intended for property repairs, tensions developed between the two. The locks were eventually changed after Umoh claimed he had lost the key.
Umoh was arraigned on December 6, 2021, on a one-count charge of murder and pleaded not guilty. Six witnesses, including the deceased’s father and the church’s senior pastor, were called to testify.
In his ruling, Justice Ette said the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and condemned the betrayal of trust by a religious leader.
“Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” the judge declared.
Edward’s posthumous academic result showed he graduated with First Class honours.
The case concludes nearly six years of prosecution by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice.
