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 for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey.
Umoh was convicted by Justice Gabriel Ette of the Akwa Ibom State High Court for killing Bassey, a 500-level Civil Engineering student of the University of Uyo, on December 21, 2020, at Ifa Ikot Ubo in Uyo Local Government Area.
The deceased had relocated to his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to safeguard the estate and live closer to school. Before her death in December 2019, his mother had established a nursery school on the premises. Bassey resided in a two-bedroom flat attached to a large hall within the compound, alongside his younger brother, Emmanuel Bassey.
The hall, originally built for school activities, was later rented to Living Faith Church at an annual rent of N150,000 with the consent of the deceased’s father, Emana Bassey, a retired school principal. The church was permitted to commence use of the hall before completing payment, and Umoh was subsequently posted there as its pioneer resident pastor.
Evidence presented in court showed that on December 21, 2020, Umoh was seen entering the deceased’s compound. Shortly after, neighbours reported hearing screams of “Jesus” from within the premises. The defendant later emerged wearing a white garment stained with blood, claiming he had fallen while attempting to hang a banner. Gabriel Bassey was not seen alive again.
On December 26, 2020, a day after Christmas, Bassey’s decomposing body was discovered in his room, wrapped in a mat, bearing multiple lacerations. A butcher’s knife was found beside him.
As the last person seen with the deceased and unable to explain the bloodstains on his clothing, Umoh was arrested and charged with murder. Arraigned on December 6, 2021, on a one-count charge of murder, he pleaded not guilty.
During trial, the prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father, who testified that shortly after the church began operations, the defendant requested permission to store church chairs and other items in the deceased’s flat because the hall lacked doors and windows. The request was granted.
However, the arrangement soon created friction. Each time the defendant needed access to the stored items, the deceased—often away—had to return home, incurring transport costs that were not reimbursed. Following complaints, the father directed his son to hand over a spare key to the defendant to ease access.
The court heard that after the spare key was given, items belonging to the deceased’s late mother including clothes, plates and other valuables began to go missing. The defendant, who had possession of the key, became a suspect. When confronted, he claimed the key had been lost.
The matter was reported to the church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who testified as a defence witness. He said he provided N5,000 to enable the deceased change the locks. Evidence showed that no further items went missing after the locks were replaced.
Tensions later arose between the deceased and the defendant over the handling of rent allegedly paid for the hall and meant for repairs.
Delivering a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Ette described the case as “very sympathetic,” recounting the deceased’s late mother’s efforts to develop the property for educational purposes before her death.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Ette condemned the act, noting the irony of a religious leader committing murder 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 said.
He 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.
