The Supreme Court of Nigeria will today decide whether to sentence Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly known as Reverend King to death by hanging or whether he should serve more jail time for murder of one of his church members and the setting ablaze of five others.
Reverend King who is the General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly, a Lagos based church, is challenging the judgement of a Lagos High Court which sentenced him to death by hanging.
The Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Walter Onoghen has been on the case for some time now and had previously adjourned the case till today.
Reverend King was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder.
He pleaded not guilty to the allegation but was sentenced to death by hanging by the then Justice of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, Justice Joseph Oyewole in January 11, 2011 for the murder of Ann Uzoh, one of his church members.
The Lagos State Government had previously reported that Reverend King poured petrol on six of his church members and set them ablaze which unfortunately led to the death of Ann Uzoh on August 2, 2006, 11 days after the dastardly act was carried out.
This led to the conviction and sentencing of Reverend King to 20 years imprisonment for attempted murder and death by hanging for murder.
Reverend King, seemingly dissatisfied by the ruling, approached the Appeal Court in Lagos but his appeal was thrown out.
Justice Fatimo Akinbami who read the judgement for the Appeal Court stated,
"I hereby rule that the prosecution effectively discharged the burden of proof on it. This appeal is devoid of any basis and accordingly fails.
"The judgement of the High Court is hereby affirmed, and the conviction imposed on the appellant (which is death by hanging) is also affirmed".
The two other members of the panel of Justices, Amina Augie and Ibrahim Saulawa concurred with the lead judgement.
Reverend King has since appealed to the Supreme Court which fixed today as the final day of judgment.