Emmanuel Umoh, the resident pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel at Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has received a death sentence by hanging.
Umoh received a sentence from Justice Gabriel Ette of the state High Court for the murder of Gabriel Bassey, a 500-level civil engineering student at the University of Uyo, who happened to be his landlord.
The pastor was found guilty of fatally stabbing Edward on December 21, 2020, in Ifa Ikot Ubo, located in the Uyo Local Government Area of the state.
The court was informed that the deceased moved to his late mother’s property at Ifa Ikot Ubo to protect the estate and also to be nearer to school.
Before her passing in December 2019, his mother had set up a nursery school on the premises.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the deceased landlord resided in a two-bedroom apartment connected to a long corridor within the premises with his younger sibling, Emmanuel Bassey.
The hall, initially built for educational use, was subsequently leased to Living Faith Church for an annual fee of N150,000, with permission from his father, Emana Bassey, a retired principal.
The church was permitted to start using the hall even prior to the complete payment of rent, it was learned.
The inmate was later assigned to the branch as its first resident pastor.
Evidence submitted to the court also demonstrated that on December 21, 2020, the accused was observed entering the victim’s property, after which neighbors started hearing cries of “Jesus” from within the area.
Soon after, the defendant appeared in a white outfit marked with blood, stating he had fallen while trying to put up a banner.
The deceased was not seen alive again.
On December 26, 2020, the day after Christmas, Edward’s decaying body was found in his room, encased in a mat with several cuts and a butcher knife located next to him.
The defendant, who was the last individual seen with Edward and had unaccounted bloodstains, was quickly arrested and charged with homicide.
The accused, who faced arraignment on December 6, 2021, regarding a single count of murder, entered a not guilty plea.
To support its argument, the prosecution summoned six witnesses, among them the father of the deceased, Emana Bassey, who gave his testimony as the initial prosecution witness.
He informed the court that soon after the church started functioning, the defendant asked for approval to keep church chairs and other belongings inside the deceased’s apartment for safety, since the hall had no doors or windows.
The father stated that the request was approved.
Nonetheless, the setup quickly turned into an issue.
Each time the defendant required entry to church belongings stored in the apartment, the deceased, frequently absent, had to come back to provide access, resulting in transportation costs that were not reimbursed.
After receiving complaints, the father instructed his son to provide the defendant with a spare key for easier access.
The prosecution presented evidence indicating that after the key was given, belongings of the deceased’s late mother, such as clothing, dishes, and other valuables, started to go missing.
The suspect, having the spare key, became the defendant.
When faced with the accusation, the defendant asserted he had misplaced the key.
The incident was brought to the attention of the church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who served as a defense witness and gave N5,000 to help the deceased replace the locks.
Based on the evidence presented to the court, no additional items disappeared after the locks were replaced.
Conflicts subsequently emerged between the deceased and the defendant concerning the management of rent funds allegedly paid for hall usage and meant for renovations.
Issuing a judgment that extended beyond two hours, Justice Gabriel Ette characterized the case as “extremely sympathetic,” detailing the deceased’s mother’s dedication to creating and enhancing the property for educational use prior to her passing.
The court determined that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Ette denounced the action, highlighting the irony of a faith leader ending a life on church grounds.
“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 on the premises of the church,” Justice Ette held.
He also mentioned that people who violate public trust in this way threaten society and should be subjected to the full extent of the law.
“Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” the court declared.
