A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Ekang Philip Bassey to life imprisonment for the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, following a violent altercation 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 court found Bassey guilty of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code.
According to the FCT Police Command, the incident occurred on January 6, 2024, when the deceased attended a birthday party organised by the defendant at a hotel in Kubwa. A disagreement between the two friends reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation.
Police investigations revealed that Bassey slapped and pushed Nnonifu during the altercation, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. The victim sustained severe head injuries and was later confirmed dead.
The Command had initially charged the defendant with culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 220(a) and (b), and Section 221 of the Penal Code, following the conclusion of its investigation.
However, in its judgment, the court held that although the prosecution successfully established that the defendant’s unlawful actions caused the victim’s death, it failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Bassey acted with the intention or knowledge required to sustain a conviction for culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221.
Justice Idris consequently convicted the defendant under Section 224 of the Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Reacting to the judgment, the FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime while upholding the rule of law and protecting the constitutional rights of all persons.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, who disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday, said the conviction reflected the Command’s resolve to thoroughly investigate criminal cases and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
