Court sentences church usher to death for killing girlfriend

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a 33-year-old church usher, Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, to death for the murder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga. Nelson was convicted for killing Effanga on February 6, 2025, before making away with her mobile phone. The court was informed that the convict had visited […]

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a 33-year-old church usher, Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, to death for the murder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga.

Nelson was convicted for killing Effanga on February 6, 2025, before making away with her mobile phone.

The court was informed that the convict had visited the deceased at her residence located at No. 102 Aka Road, opposite NEPA Line, Uyo, at about 7 a.m. on the day of the incident to use her phone to upload his birthday photographs on social media.

However, an argument reportedly ensued between the two over the phone, leading to a struggle during which Nelson allegedly slammed the victim’s head against the wall and strangled her to death.

After committing the crime, he fled with the deceased’s phone.

The convict was later tracked down and arrested on February 8, 2025, at about 2 a.m. during a church vigil at a church located along Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo.

During police interrogation, Nelson reportedly confessed to the crime.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ekpo Ntekim found the defendant guilty on a two-count charge of murder and stealing.

The court subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging or lethal injection for the offence of murder.

Justice Ntekim held that the punishment for stealing was subsumed under the sentence for murder.