Akwa Ibom court sentence pastor to death for killing first class university student

An Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced a cleric, Prince Emmanuel Umoh, to death by hanging for the brutal killing of Gabriel Bassey Edward, a final-year Engineering student of the University of Uyo.

According to earlier reports, Umoh, who served as a resident pastor at Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners Chapel, murdered the 23-year-old in December 2020 at his residence located at Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

It was later revealed that Edward’s academic results were released after his death, showing that he had completed his studies with a First-Class degree.

Reacting to the court’s decision, human rights lawyer Inihebe Effiong praised the prosecution for securing the conviction. He also urged religious organizations to carry out comprehensive background checks on individuals before ordaining them as ministers.