Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A High Court sitting in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom, has sentenced 29-year-old Prince Emmanuel Umoh, identified as a resident pastor of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, to death by hanging for the murder of a University of Uyo student, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
Delivering a judgment that lasted nearly two hours, Justice Gabriel Ette of the Akwa Ibom State High Court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found Umoh guilty of killing Edward, a 500-level Civil Engineering student at the University of Uyo, in December 2020.
The victim’s death drew widespread attention after his academic results were released posthumously, confirming that he had graduated with First Class honours. The announcement deepened public grief over the circumstances of his killing and underscored the loss of a promising young graduate.
According to court proceedings, Edward had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo, a community in Uyo, to oversee and manage the estate. Part of the compound was reportedly rented to the church at an annual fee of ₦150,000. Testimony presented before the court indicated that tensions arose over access to the property and financial matters related to rent and maintenance.
Evidence tendered during trial suggested that a dispute developed after Edward provided the pastor with a spare key to enable him store church items in one of the flats. Subsequently, items belonging to Edward’s late mother were reported missing. The disagreement reportedly intensified over the use of rental proceeds intended for repairs within the compound.
Prosecutors told the court that on December 21, 2020, Umoh was seen entering the premises. Witnesses from the neighbourhood testified that they heard loud cries of “Jesus” from within the compound around that time. The court heard that shortly afterward, the pastor was observed leaving the premises wearing a blood-stained white garment. He reportedly told neighbours that he had sustained injuries after falling while hanging a banner.
Gabriel Bassey Edward was not seen alive again after that day. On December 26, 2020, following concerns raised about his whereabouts, his decomposing body was discovered inside his room. The remains were found wrapped in a mat, bearing multiple deep cuts. A butcher’s knife was recovered at the scene and was presented as an exhibit during the trial.
In his judgment, Justice Ette described the case as painful and tragic. He emphasized the sanctity of human life and noted that individuals occupying positions of spiritual or community leadership carry an elevated moral responsibility. The court held that the circumstantial evidence, witness testimonies and forensic findings collectively established the accused’s culpability.
The defence had urged the court to consider gaps in the prosecution’s narrative and challenged aspects of the evidentiary chain. However, the judge ruled that the totality of evidence met the legal threshold required for conviction in a capital offence.
Under Nigerian criminal law, murder is punishable by death in states where capital punishment remains part of statutory provisions. Sentences of death by hanging are subject to confirmation and may proceed through appellate review processes. Convicted persons retain the right to appeal both conviction and sentence at higher courts.
The verdict has generated strong reactions within Akwa Ibom State and beyond, with many expressing sorrow over the killing and the broader implications for trust within religious communities. Legal analysts note that while capital punishment remains controversial, courts are mandated to apply existing law where guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt.
For the family and associates of Gabriel Bassey Edward, the ruling represents a judicial conclusion to a case that began with unexplained disappearance and ended in one of the state’s most closely watched trials. The confirmation of his First Class graduation after his death has continued to resonate as a stark reminder of the potential cut short by violence.
As the case moves into the post-judgment phase, attention will turn to any appeal that may be filed and the procedural steps required under Nigerian law before enforcement of a death sentence. For now, the High Court’s decision stands as a definitive legal finding in a case that combined personal betrayal, property dispute and tragic loss.
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