The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Ekang Philip Bassey to life imprisonment for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, during a fight at a hotel in the Kubwa area of Abuja.
The conviction was secured by the FCT Police Command at High Court 25, presided over by Justice M. S. Idris, in connection with the incident that occurred on January 6, 2024.
According to the police, Bassey was initially arraigned on a charge of culpable homicide punishable by death under Sections 220(a) and (b) and punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code following investigations into the incident.
Evidence presented before the court showed that the defendant and the deceased were friends. Bassey had organised a birthday celebration attended by Nnonifu, but a disagreement between the two reportedly escalated into a physical altercation.
During the trial, prosecutors told the court that Bassey slapped and pushed the deceased, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. The victim sustained severe head injuries and was later confirmed dead.
In its judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, Justice Idris held that although Bassey’s unlawful actions led to Nnonifu’s death, the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that he possessed the intention or knowledge required for a conviction under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.
The court, however, found that the prosecution proved that Bassey unlawfully caused the death of the deceased and consequently convicted him of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code.
He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
Reacting to the judgment, the FCT Police Command said the conviction underscored its commitment to ensuring offenders are brought to justice while upholding the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all persons.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.
