Reported by: Ijeoma G | 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 the Living Faith Church Worldwide, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward. The ruling followed a protracted legal battle stemming from a dispute over property access, missing personal items, and unresolved rent obligations.
The judgment was delivered after the court found Umoh guilty of murder, concluding that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt. According to proceedings presented during the trial, tensions between the pastor and his landlord had escalated in the months leading up to the fatal incident. The disagreement reportedly centred on access to parts of the property, allegations of missing belongings, and unpaid rent.
Prosecutors told the court that the relationship between both men had deteriorated significantly, with verbal altercations allegedly becoming frequent. On the day of the incident, what began as another confrontation reportedly turned violent. The court heard that the landlord sustained fatal injuries during the altercation, leading to his death.
Medical and forensic evidence were presented to support the prosecution’s argument that the injuries inflicted were consistent with deliberate and unlawful violence. Witness testimonies from neighbours and other individuals familiar with the dispute were also tendered as part of the evidence considered by the court.
In delivering the judgment, the presiding judge held that the act was intentional and not a case of self-defence or accidental harm, as argued by the defence. The court stated that the gravity of the offence warranted the maximum penalty prescribed under Nigerian law for murder. Consequently, Prince Emmanuel Umoh was sentenced to death by hanging.
The verdict has generated intense public reaction within Uyo and beyond. Community members expressed shock at the circumstances of the crime, particularly given the religious leadership position held by the convicted individual. Some residents described the case as a tragic reminder of how unresolved personal disputes can escalate into irreversible consequences.
Legal analysts note that under Nigerian criminal jurisprudence, murder is punishable by death in many states, including Akwa Ibom. However, death sentences are subject to multiple layers of appeal, and executions are relatively rare, often requiring confirmation by higher courts and the approval of the state governor.
The defence is expected to exercise its right of appeal, which may lead to a review of the conviction and sentence by the Court of Appeal and, potentially, the Supreme Court. Until all appellate processes are exhausted, the sentence will not be carried out.
Religious leaders in the state have called for calm and reflection in the wake of the judgment. While refraining from commenting on the specifics of the court’s findings, some clergy members emphasised the need for conflict resolution mechanisms within communities and faith institutions to prevent disputes from spiralling into violence.
The case also raises broader concerns about landlord-tenant relations and dispute resolution practices in urban centres. Property disagreements, particularly in rapidly expanding cities such as Uyo, have increasingly resulted in civil litigation and, in rare but troubling instances, criminal proceedings.
Authorities have reiterated the importance of pursuing legal and peaceful channels for resolving property-related disagreements. Law enforcement officials in Akwa Ibom State urged residents to avoid taking matters into their own hands and to report conflicts to appropriate agencies before they escalate.
As the legal process continues, the family of the deceased landlord has expressed relief at the court’s decision, describing it as a measure of justice for their loss. They called for respect for the rule of law and urged the public to allow the judicial process to run its full course.
The conviction of a cleric for a capital offence underscores the impartiality of the judicial system in addressing serious crimes, irrespective of professional or religious status. With the appellate stage likely to follow, the case remains a significant development in Akwa Ibom’s legal landscape and a sobering episode in the intersection of personal conflict and criminal justice.
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