The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced to death 33-year-old Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson for killing his girlfriend.

Nelson, an usher in one of the new generation churches in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, killed his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, on February 6, 2025, and afterwards, stole her phone.

It was gathered that on the day of the murder, at about 7am, the convict visited his girlfriend, late Emem, at No. 102, Aka Road, opposite NEPA Line, Uyo, where she lived, to use her phone to post his birthday pictures on social media.

It was learnt that he, however, ended up struggling with her over the phone, and in the process, slammed her head against the wall and then strangled her to death.

After committing the offence, Nelson fled with the deceased’s phone, but on February 8, 2025, at 2am, he was tracked down to his church, located on Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, where an all-night service was being held.

During interrogation, the convict confessed to the crime.

In his ruling, the trial Judge, Hon. Justice Ekpo Ntekim, found Nelson guilty on a two-count charge of murder and stealing, and sentenced him to death by hanging or lethal injection for murder. The judge held that the punishment for stealing was subsumed under the sentence for murder. (Daily Trust)