Court Sentences Winners Chapel Pastor to Death for Landlord’s Murder

An Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced a 29-year-old resident pastor of Living Faith Church Worldwide, popularly known as Winners Chapel, to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord.

The convict, Emmanuel Umoh, served as the Resident Pastor at the Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon branch of the church. Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Gabriel Ette found him guilty of killing Gabriel Bassey Edward, a 500-level Civil Engineering student of the University of Uyo.

Academic records released after Edward’s death showed that he graduated with First Class honours.

Background

Court documents revealed that Edward had moved into his late mother’s property at Ifa Ikot Ubo to safeguard the estate and stay closer to school. Before her passing in December 2019, his mother had established a nursery school within the compound.

Edward lived in a two-bedroom flat attached to a long hall in the compound with his younger brother. The hall, originally constructed for school activities, was later rented to the church for worship at an annual rent of ₦150,000. The arrangement received the approval of Edward’s father, Emana Bassey Edward, a retired school principal. The church commenced use of the hall before completing payment, and Umoh was subsequently posted to the branch as its first Resident Pastor.

Circumstances of the Killing

The court heard that on December 21, 2020, Umoh was seen entering the compound. Neighbours later reported hearing repeated shouts of “Jesus” from within the premises. Shortly afterwards, he was seen leaving wearing a white garment stained with blood, which he claimed was due to a fall while attempting to hang a banner.

On December 26, 2020, a day after Christmas, Edward’s decomposing body was discovered in his room. The body, wrapped in a mat, bore multiple deep cuts allegedly inflicted with a butcher’s knife recovered at the scene.

Umoh was arrested as the last person seen with the deceased and for having blood stains on his clothing without a satisfactory explanation. He was charged with one count of murder and arraigned on December 6, 2021, where he pleaded not guilty.

Trial Proceedings

The prosecution called six witnesses, including the deceased’s father. He told the court that after the church began using the hall, the pastor sought permission to store church chairs and other items in Edward’s flat because the hall lacked doors and windows. The request was granted.

The arrangement later created tension, as Edward had to return home whenever the pastor required access to the stored items, even when he was away, without compensation for the inconvenience. Following complaints, Edward’s father directed him to give the pastor a spare key.

Subsequently, personal belongings of Edward’s late mother — including clothes, plates, and other valuables — reportedly went missing. Suspicion fell on the pastor due to his access to the key. When questioned, he claimed the key had been lost.

The issue was reported to the church’s Senior Pastor, Owoidoho Etuk Akpan, who testified as a defence witness. He informed the court that he gave the family ₦5,000 to replace the locks, after which no further items were reported missing.

The court also heard that friction later developed between the pastor and the deceased over rent allegedly paid for the hall and intended for repairs.

Judgment

In a judgment lasting over two hours, Justice Ette described the case as deeply painful, recalling the late mother’s efforts in building the property for educational purposes.

The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, stressing that life is sacred and that anyone who betrays public trust  particularly in a religious setting must face the full weight of the law.

Emmanuel Umoh was accordingly sentenced to death by hanging.