An usher in one of the new generation churches in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, would die by hanging for killing his girlfriend, and stealing her phone.
The 33 year-old Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson was convicted and sentenced after he was found guilty on a two-count charge of murder and stealing by Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo.
The incident occurred on February 6, 2025, which was the convict’s birthday, at about 7 a.m, when Nelson, who resided along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, visited his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, at her residence at No.102, Aka Road, opposite NEPA Line, Uyo, to use her phone to post his birthday pictures on social media.
Also read: Church Usher in police net over alleged murder of girlfriend in Akwa Ibom
He, however, ended up struggling with her over the phone, slammed her head against the wall and strangled her to death.
After committing the offence, Nelson fled with the deceased’s phone.
On February 8, 2025, he was tracked to the church located off Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, during a tarry programme at about 2 a.m.
During interrogation, he confessed to the crime.
Trial Judge, Hon. Justice Ekpo Ntekim, found Nelson guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging or lethal injection for murder.
Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson killed his girlfriend, Miss Emem Monday Effanga
The judge held that the punishment for stealing was subsumed under the sentence for murder.
Nelson was represented pro bono by a legal luminary from Lagos.
By Harrison Essien
