The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled that the General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King must die by hanging for murder after dismissing his appeal for lack of merit.
Justice Sylvester Nguta read the lead judgement of the five-man panel at the Supreme Court in Abuja earlier today.
Rev. King was charged to court by the Lagos State Government on September 26th, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder of one of his members including Ann Uzoh on August 2nd, 2006.
Specifically, The Lagos State Government said that the convict poured gasoline (petrol) on the deceased and five other persons and that Uzoh died on August 2, 2006; 11 days after the act was perpetrated against her
Rev. King pleaded not guilty to the allegation but was sentenced to death by the then Justice Joseph Oyewoleof Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on January 11, 2007, for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh.
Ezeugo was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder and death by hanging for the offence of murder.
Justice Oyewole is now a judge of Appeal Court sitting in the Calabar division.
Dissatisfied, Ezeugo challenged the verdict before the Court of Appeal in Lagos, but the appeal was thrown out.
’’I at this moment, I rule that the prosecution effectively discharged the burden of proof on it. This appeal is devoid of any basis and accordingly fails.
“The judgment of the High Court is hereby affirmed, and the conviction imposed on the appellant, (which is death by hanging) is also affirmed,”
Justice Fatimo Akinbami who read the judgement held. The two other members of the panel of Justices, Amina Augie and Ibrahim Saulawa, concurred with the lead judgement.
Ezeugo, still dissatisfied, turned to the Supreme Court, asking for the judgment to be upturned. However, the Supreme Court justices showed no mercy on Rev. King during today's judgement.