Advertisements
A High Court sitting in Uyo, the capital of Uyo, has sentenced 29-year-old Living Faith resident pastor, Prince Emmanuel Umoh, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey Edward.
The conviction followed full criminal proceedings before the trial court, where prosecutors presented evidence linking the defendant to the killing. Ejes Gist News reports that the case stemmed from a dispute involving property access, alleged missing household items, and outstanding rent issues.
What the Court Ruled
The presiding judge of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found the accused guilty of murder under the applicable provisions of Nigeria’s Criminal Code.
Advertisements
Also Read: Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate Today, February 21, 2026
Under Nigerian law, murder carries the mandatory penalty of death by hanging upon conviction in state high courts, unless overturned on appeal.
Advertisements
Background to the Case
Court records indicated that tensions escalated between the tenant and his landlord over access to parts of the property and disputes relating to rent payments. The prosecution further alleged that disagreements over missing items aggravated the conflict.
During the trial, the court examined witness testimonies, forensic findings, and investigative reports presented by law enforcement authorities. The defence counsel cross-examined prosecution witnesses and addressed the court before judgment was delivered.
Legal Framework
Murder is prosecuted under state criminal laws across Nigeria. In Akwa Ibom State, as in several other states, conviction attracts capital punishment.
The Nigerian Constitution permits appeals in capital cases. Legal experts note that defendants sentenced to death have the right to challenge the verdict at the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.
Implications
Capital punishment remains part of Nigeria’s statutory criminal justice framework, though executions require additional procedural approvals, including the signing of death warrants by the state governor.
Authorities have not publicly indicated whether the convict intends to file an appeal.
The judgment adds to records of high-profile landlord-tenant disputes that have escalated into criminal proceedings within Nigeria’s urban centres.
