The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Ekang Philip Bassey to life imprisonment for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, following a fight during a birthday celebration in Kubwa, Abuja.
The judgment was delivered by Justice M. S. Idris of FCT High Court 25 in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024 after the FCT Police Command successfully prosecuted the case.
According to the police, the incident occurred on January 6, 2024, at a hotel in Kubwa, where the deceased had organised a birthday party attended by the defendant.
Investigations revealed that an argument between the two friends escalated into a physical confrontation. During the altercation, Bassey allegedly slapped and pushed Nnonifu, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. The victim sustained severe head injuries and was later confirmed dead.
Following a comprehensive investigation, the FCT Police Command arraigned the defendant on a charge of culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 220(a) and (b), and punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
However, in its judgment, the court held that while the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant unlawfully caused the death of the deceased, it failed to establish the intention or knowledge required to sustain a conviction for culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Justice Idris consequently convicted Bassey under Section 224 of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not punishable with death and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Reacting to the judgment, the FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime, stressing that it would continue to diligently investigate and prosecute criminal offences while upholding the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all persons.
