A High Court in Akwa Ibom State has handed down a death sentence to Prince Emmanuel, a self-professed pastor of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), after he was found guilty of murdering Gabriel Bassey Edward, a final-year engineering student at the University of Uyo. The shocking verdict was delivered on Thursday by Justice Gabriel Ette, who stated that the prosecution had proven the defendant’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The incident, which occurred in December 2020, involved the tragic death of 24-year-old Gabriel, whose body was discovered at his residence in Ikot Okpon, Uyo. Emmanuel, who had rented part of the deceased’s house for use as a church branch, was the last person seen with Gabriel before his death.
Testimonies presented during the trial revealed that neighbors heard loud screams emanating from the house on the fateful day. Some witnesses later reported seeing Emmanuel carrying buckets stained with what appeared to be blood. When approached by the authorities, he reportedly claimed that he had been praying at the time, a statement that raised further suspicions.
A subsequent investigation uncovered key evidence at Emmanuel’s residence, including items belonging to the victim, which further linked him to the crime. The prosecution emphasized that the circumstantial evidence, coupled with the witness accounts, formed a strong case against the pastor.
Justice Ette, in his ruling, emphasized the coherence and compelling nature of the circumstantial evidence, concluding that it overwhelmingly pointed to Emmanuel’s involvement in the murder. The court sentenced him to death by hanging, a sentence mandated under Nigerian law for capital offenses like murder.
The trial, which had drawn significant attention within both the University of Uyo and wider Akwa Ibom communities, culminated in a dramatic conclusion that left the family of the victim in attendance at the court for the sentencing. Emmanuel’s defense team has the option to appeal the conviction and sentence to the Court of Appeal.
This case has sparked intense debate within the region, with many expressing disbelief over the involvement of a religious figure in such a heinous act. Local residents are calling for stricter oversight of religious institutions, as the story of a pastor’s descent into murder has left many in the community questioning the true nature of faith leadership.