A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced 33-year-old Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson to death for the mu@rder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga.
Nelson was found guilty on Wednesday, 20th May 2026, after the court convicted him on a two-count charge of m¥rder and st£aling.
The felon, who is alleged to be an usher in a new-generation church in Uyo, reportedly killed Effanga, a makeup artist, before running away with her phone.
Nelson’s birthday was February 6, 2025, and the incident reportedly happened about 7am that day.
He allegedly went to visit Effanga at her home on Aka Road, Uyo, to publish his birthday pictures on social media with her phone, it was learnt. But things allegedly got v+olent during a tussle over the phone.
Nelson was accused of bashing the deceased’s head against the wall and then strangling her to death. He then fled the scene with her phone after the offence,
Two days later, on February 8, 2025, the security operatives tracked him to a church on Nsikak Eduok Avenue where he was attending a night vigil session around 2am.
Nelson reportedly confessed to the crime after questioning.
Justice Ekpo Ntekim, who delivered verdict, condemned him to death by hanging or lethal injection for the murder allegation and said the punishment for theft was already subsumed in the main sentence.
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