NIGERIA: APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON REVEREND KING

A Court of Appeal in Lagos affirmed the death sentence slammed on the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (aka Rev. King), by Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos on January 11, 2007.
The court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Fatima Akinbami dismissed Ezeugo's appeal, on the ground that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against him at the trial court.
Rev King had through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, appealed the judgment of Justice Oyewole who convicted and sentenced him to death by hanging for the alleged murder of a church member, Ann Uzoh, and attempted murder of five other devotees.
Rev King was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on six counts of attempted murder and murder on allegations of pouring petrol on the deceased and on five other persons and thereafter setting them ablaze.
One of the victims, Uzoh, died on August 2, 2006, 11 days after the incident, as a result of the injuries said to have been sustained from the burnt.