Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Killing Akwa Ibom Landlord

The Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Umoh, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Justice Gabriel Ette of the state High Court handed down the sentence after convicting Umoh for the murder of 500-level Civil Engineering student at the University of Uyo, Gabriel Bassey, who was also his landlord. The crime occurred on December 21, 2020, at Ifa Ikot Ubo in the Uyo Local Government Area.

The court heard that the deceased had relocated to his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo both to secure the estate and to live closer to his school. His mother, who passed away in December 2019, had previously established a nursery school on the property.

Evidence presented indicated that Gabriel Bassey resided in a two-bedroom flat attached to a long hall within the compound, alongside his younger brother, Emmanuel Bassey. The hall, initially built for school purposes, was later rented to Living Faith Church for an annual rent of N150,000 with the consent of the deceased’s father, Emana Bassey, a retired school principal. The church was allowed to begin operations even before full payment of rent, and Emmanuel Umoh was posted as the branch’s pioneer resident pastor.

On the day of the murder, the defendant was reportedly seen entering the deceased’s compound, after which neighbors heard screams of “Jesus” coming from inside. Shortly afterward, Umoh emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he fell while trying to hang a banner. The deceased was never seen alive again.

Gabriel Bassey’s decomposing body was discovered on December 26, 2020, a day after Christmas, wrapped in a mat with multiple lacerations. A butcher’s knife was found beside him. Umoh, being the last person seen with the deceased and found with unexplained bloodstains, was promptly arrested and charged with murder.

Pastor Faces Trial Over Landlord’s Murder

Arraigned on December 6, 2021, Umoh pleaded not guilty to the one-count murder charge. The prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father, Emana Bassey, who testified as the first prosecution witness. He explained that after the church began operations, Umoh requested permission to store church chairs and other items in the deceased’s flat due to the hall lacking doors and windows. The request was granted, but issues soon arose when the deceased had to return home to allow access to his property, incurring transport costs that were not reimbursed.

Following complaints, Emana Bassey instructed his son to give the defendant a spare key to ease access. However, after this arrangement, items belonging to the deceased’s late mother, including clothes and plates, began to go missing. The defendant became a suspect but claimed he had lost the key. The issue was reported to the church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who testified as a defence witness and provided N5,000 to enable the deceased to change the locks. No further items went missing after the locks were changed.

Tensions escalated between the deceased and the defendant over rent payments and handling of funds meant for hall repairs.

Delivering a judgment lasting over two hours, Justice Gabriel Ette described the case as “very sympathetic,” highlighting the efforts of the deceased’s late mother to develop the property for educational purposes. The court held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Ette condemned the act, emphasizing the irony of a religious leader taking a life within church premises: “Life is sacred and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is an irony and quite appalling when a man who claims to be the representative of the divine on earth stoops so low as to denigrate the very essence of his calling and take someone’s life on the premises of the church.”

The judge added that individuals who betray public trust in such a manner pose a danger to society and must face the full weight of the law. “Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” Justice Ette declared.