A 29-year-old pastor of Living Faith Church, Prince Emmanuel Umoh, has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
Justice Gabriel Ette convicted Umoh for fatally stabbing Edward in December 2020. Edward, a 500-level Civil Engineering student at the University of Uyo, was later confirmed to have graduated with First Class honours.
Court records revealed that Edward had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the estate and stay closer to school.
The property had previously housed a nursery school founded by his mother before her passing in 2019.
The hall on the property was rented to Living Faith Church for worship, and Umoh, posted as the pioneer resident pastor, was given access to the flat where Edward lived.
On December 21, 2020, neighbours reported hearing screams from Edward’s home. Umoh was later seen leaving the premises with blood-stained clothing, claiming he had fallen while hanging a banner.
Edward’s body was discovered five days later, wrapped in a mat with multiple stab wounds.
Evidence showed tensions between Umoh and Edward over church property storage and rent payments.
Items belonging to Edward’s late mother were reportedly missing, heightening disputes before the killing.
In a two-hour-long judgment, Justice Ette described the case as “very sympathetic” and condemned the pastor’s actions, noting the shocking irony of a religious leader committing murder within church premises.
“Life is sacred, and those who represent God must uphold it. It is disturbing when a man claiming to be God’s representative takes a life in the church,” the judge said, sentencing Umoh to death by hanging.
