The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, December 10,
fixed February 26, 2016 for judgment in the appeal filed by the General Overseer
of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly known as
Reverend King, challenging the judgment of a Lagos High Court sentencing him to
death by hanging.
The apex court presided over by Justice Walter Onoghen adjourned for judgment after entertaining arguments from counsel to prosecution and defence in the matter.
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, who appeared before the Supreme Court alongside the Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Idowu Alakija and other Senior Counsel in the State, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the judgment of the lower courts.
It would be recalled, Reverend King was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder.
He, however pleaded not guilty to the allegation but was sentenced to death by the then Justice Joseph Oyewole of Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, on January 11, 2007 for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh.
The Lagos state government had said that the convict poured petrol on the deceased and five other persons and that Uzoh died on August 2, 2006; 11 days after the act was perpetrated.
Reverend King was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder and death by hanging for the offence of murder.
Not satisfied, King challenged the verdict before the Court of Appeal in Lagos, but the appeal was thrown out.
The two other members of the panel of Justices, Amina Augie and Ibrahim Saulawa concurred with the lead judgement.
Again, Ezeugo not being satisfied with the verdict, approached the Supreme Court, and urged that the judgment be upturned.
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