Court sentences man to life imprisonment for friend’s murder

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has secured the conviction of Ekang Philip Bassey, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the FCT High Court for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, during a birthday celebration.

Bassey was convicted by Justice M. S. Idris of FCT High Court 25 after the court found him guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the incident, which occurred on January 6, 2024, at a hotel in the Kubwa area of Abuja.

FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said the command initially charged Bassey with culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 220(a) and (b) and Section 221 of the Penal Code Law, following the conclusion of investigations into the incident.

She said evidence presented before the court showed that the accused and the deceased were friends, adding that the incident occurred after a disagreement between both men at the birthday celebration organised by Nnonifu escalated into a physical confrontation.

“The prosecution led evidence establishing that the defendant assaulted the deceased by slapping and pushing him, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. The deceased sustained fatal injuries and was subsequently confirmed dead,” Adeh said.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, the court held that although Bassey’s unlawful act resulted in the death of the deceased, the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt the intention or knowledge required for a conviction under Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The court, however, ruled that the evidence presented established that the defendant unlawfully caused the death of Nnonifu and convicted him of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code.

Bassey was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

The FCT Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that offenders are brought to justice while upholding the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all persons.

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