By Emmanuel Ntekim
The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a 29-year-old resident pastor of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Justice Gabriel Ette convicted Prince Emmanuel Umoh for stabbing Edward to death on December 21, 2020, at Ifa Ikot Ubo in Uyo.
The deceased, a 500-level Civil Engineering student of University of Uyo, had relocated to his late mother’s property at Ifa Ikot Ubo to oversee the estate and live closer to school.
Before her death in December 2019, his mother had established a nursery school on the premises.
Part of the property, a hall initially constructed for school activities, was rented to Living Faith Church for worship at an annual fee of ₦150,000. Umoh was later posted to the branch as its pioneer resident pastor.
Evidence before the court showed that on December 21, 2020, the defendant was seen entering the deceased’s compound. Neighbours later reported hearing loud screams of “Jesus” from within the premises.
Shortly afterward, Umoh was seen leaving the compound wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he had fallen while attempting to hang a banner.
The decomposing body of Edward was discovered on December 26, 2020, wrapped in a mat inside his room with multiple stab wounds. A butcher’s knife was found beside him.
The defendant, identified as the last person seen with the deceased and unable to explain the bloodstains on his clothing, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
The prosecution called six witnesses during the trial, including the deceased’s father. Testimony revealed that the defendant had earlier requested a spare key to the deceased’s flat to access church property stored there.
After the key was handed over, items belonging to the deceased’s late mother reportedly went missing.
When confronted, the defendant claimed he had lost the key. The locks were later changed. Tensions also arose over issues relating to rent payments and repair funds for the hall.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Ette described the case as “very sympathetic” and condemned the conduct of a religious leader committing such an act.
“Life is sacred and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is quite appalling when a man who claims to represent the divine stoops so low as to take someone’s life,” the judge said.
He thereafter sentenced Umoh to death by hanging. The judgment concludes six years of prosecution by the state.
