A Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, South-West Nigeria, this morning upheld the conviction and death sentence passed on eccentric Pentecostal cleric Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King on charges of attempted murder and murder.

King was first arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder before Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

Accused of murdering Ann Uzoh, a female church member, Ezeugo (see photo) was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 11, 2007. He was consequently transferred to Kaduna Prisons in North-West Nigeria to await execution.

Ezeugo, who is the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Lagos, however, approached the Court of Appeal, Lagos, appealing to it to quash the death sentence.

With the turn of events, he has the option of lodging a final appeal at the country’s apex court, the Supreme Court, in the capital city of Abuja.

News Express reports that Ezeugo’s trial came at the height of reports about his alleged highhandedness in running his church located in Ajao Estate, a short distance away from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The controversial cleric who spots a trademark bare head and luxuriant beard, is accused of meting out corporal punishment to offending followers and allegedly ran a secret cell where he detained those who he felt deserved to be locked up.

His antics however backfired when Ann Uzoh, a spinster and devout member of the church, died as a result of a fire allegedly lit by Ezeugo.