by Benson Agoha | International
He had a massive cult following in his hay day and wielded enormous power, but his excessive use of force, even on members of his own congregation let to the death of one and to his arrest.
After many years of legal wrangling, the Nigerian Supreme Court today upheld an earlier conviction of the powerful Rev. King to the death penalty.
According to Nigeria's Vanguard Newspapers, the Supreme Court, sitting in Abuja okayed the convicted General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King to die by hanging.
The report was a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, Friday.
The panel upheld the death sentence that was earlier handed to Ezeugo by the Lagos State High Court.
"Consequently, the court in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the appeal the convicted clergy lodged before it, saying “the facts of the case could have been lifted from horror film.”
Today's decision resolved all the 12 issues Ezeugo raised in his appeal as the judge declared that "This appeal has no merit," adding "The judgement of the court of appeal is hereby affirmed. The prison sentence that was earlier handed to the appellant is no longer relevant in view of the death sentence passed on him”, Justice Ngwuta held.
Reverend King had approached the apex court after the Lagos state Court of Appeal on January 11th 2007 upheld the ruling of the state High court sentencing him to death by hanging for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh on August 2nd 2006.
King had set seven members of his church on fire for indulging in fornication. Ann sustained serious injuries and died in the process.
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| * Upheld: The Death Sentence |
After many years of legal wrangling, the Nigerian Supreme Court today upheld an earlier conviction of the powerful Rev. King to the death penalty.
According to Nigeria's Vanguard Newspapers, the Supreme Court, sitting in Abuja okayed the convicted General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King to die by hanging.
The report was a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, Friday.
The panel upheld the death sentence that was earlier handed to Ezeugo by the Lagos State High Court.
"Consequently, the court in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the appeal the convicted clergy lodged before it, saying “the facts of the case could have been lifted from horror film.”
Today's decision resolved all the 12 issues Ezeugo raised in his appeal as the judge declared that "This appeal has no merit," adding "The judgement of the court of appeal is hereby affirmed. The prison sentence that was earlier handed to the appellant is no longer relevant in view of the death sentence passed on him”, Justice Ngwuta held.
Reverend King had approached the apex court after the Lagos state Court of Appeal on January 11th 2007 upheld the ruling of the state High court sentencing him to death by hanging for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh on August 2nd 2006.
King had set seven members of his church on fire for indulging in fornication. Ann sustained serious injuries and died in the process.
* Vanguard News contributed to this report.
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