Appeal Court Upholds Rev. kings Death Sentence

The Court of Appeal in Lagos, Friday, upheld the death sentence handed to Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, also known as Reverend King, of the Christian Praying Assembly. In a unanimous judgment delivered by Fatima Akinbami, the court held that the evidence of the prosecution, during the trial, was “overwhelming and damning” and proved beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the crimes he was arraigned for.

Mr. Ezeugo, the church’s General Overseer, was condemned to death by Justice Joseph Oyewole of a Lagos High Court, in 2007, for murder of a church member.
“The judgment on 11th January 2007 is hereby affirmed,” said Mrs. Akinbami, who headed the three man panel of judges. In a two hour long ruling, Ms. Akinbami said that after “painstakingly and meticulously” looking into the judgment of the lower court; she discovered that Mr. Ezeugo, rather than protecting and guiding his followers, resorted to setting them ablaze.

“I must state that the conduct of the appellant (Mr. Ezeugo) was indeed sad and unfortunate,” Ms. Akinbami said. “Instead of offering his followers’ bread, he gave them stone. When they demanded for fish, he gave them scorpion,” she added.