Popular Nigerian Pastor sentenced to d£ath by hanging over landlord’s murd£r

Popular Nigerian Pastor sentenced to death by hanging over landlord’s murder

A state high court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, has sentenced Emmanuel Umoh, a resident pastor of Living Faith Church, Ifa Ikot Ubo-Ifa Ikot Okpon, to death by hanging for killing his landlord, Gabriel Edward.

According to Premium Times, Gabriel Ette, the trial judge, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced 29-year-old Umoh to death for the murder of 23-year-old Edward.

Ette held that prosecution had proved its murder case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge wondered why a man of faith could kill in a place meant for worship, adding that the cleric did not stop the attack despite the shout of “Jesus” from the deceased.

THE CASE

In December 2020, Edward, who was a final-year student of civil engineering at the University of Uyo at that time, was murdered at his late mother’s property.

He later graduated with a first class degree when the results were released.

The deceased had moved to stay in his mother’s property to safeguard the estate.

The deceased’s mother built a hall inside the compound to commence a nursery school before her death.

The hall was later rented to the church at an annual rent of N150,000.

The deceased was staying in a two-bedroom flat with his younger brother inside the compound. Umoh was later posted to the church as pioneer resident pastor.

After some time, Umoh and the deceased started having a dispute over rent money meant for repairs.

Witnesses told the court that the pastor entered the compound on December 21, 2020 — the day of the murder.

After some minutes, neighbours heard the loud screams of “Jesus” from inside the compound.

The pastor was said to have emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he had fallen while hanging a banner.

On December 26, 2020, the decomposing body of the deceased was discovered in his room, wrapped in a mat with deep cuts. A butcher’s knife was found beside the body.