An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced 29-year-old Prince Emmanuel Umoh, the resident pastor of Living Faith Church (also known as Winners Chapel) at the Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
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Delivering judgment on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Justice Gabriel Ette convicted the pastor of stabbing Edward to death. The deceased, a 500-level Civil Engineering student at the University of Uyo, was posthumously awarded a First Class honours degree based on his academic results released after his death.
Court proceedings revealed that Edward had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the estate and live closer to his university. His mother, who died in December 2019, had established a nursery school on the premises.
Edward shared a two-bedroom flat attached to a long hall in the compound with his younger brother, Emmanuel Edward Bassey. The hall, originally built for school use, was later rented to Living Faith Church for worship at an annual rent of N150,000, with approval from their father, Emana Bassey Edward, a retired school principal. The church began using the hall even before full payment.
Umoh was posted as the pioneer resident pastor to the branch.
Evidence showed that on December 21, 2020, Umoh entered the compound. Neighbours reported hearing screams of “Jesus” from the premises. Shortly after, Umoh emerged wearing a blood-stained white garment, claiming he had fallen while hanging a banner. Edward was never seen alive again.
On December 26, 2020, a day after Christmas, Edward’s decomposing body was discovered in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple lacerations. A butcher’s knife lay beside him.
Umoh, the last person seen with the victim and found with unexplained bloodstains while having regular access to the property, was arrested and charged with murder. He was arraigned on December 6, 2021, on a one-count charge and pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father (PW1), who testified that Umoh had requested, and been granted, permission to store church items in Edward’s flat for security, as the hall lacked proper doors and windows.
This led to frequent access issues, with Edward incurring transport costs to open the flat. After complaints, a spare key was provided. Subsequently, valuables belonging to Edward’s late mother began disappearing. When confronted, Umoh claimed the key was lost. The matter was reported to the church’s senior pastor, who provided N5,000 to change the locks. No further thefts occurred afterward.
Tensions escalated over rent payments for the hall, intended for repairs.
In a detailed judgment lasting over two hours, Justice Ette described the case as “very sympathetic,” highlighting the late mother’s efforts to develop the property for education.
The court ruled that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Condemning the crime, Justice Ette noted the profound irony of a religious leader committing murder on 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 in the premises of the church,” the judge stated.
He added that such betrayal of public trust endangers society and warrants the full weight of the law.
“Having found you guilty as charged, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging,” Justice Ette declared.
