FCT man bags life imprisonment over death of close friend at birthday party

A Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court has sentenced one Ekang Philip Bassey to life imprisonment over the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu.

Emeka was killed on January 6, 2024, at a hotel in the Kubwa area of the nation’s capital following a heated exchange between him and the convict at a birthday party.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, the judgement was handed down by Hon. Justice M. S. Idris.

DAILY POST reports that the convict was initially charged by the FCT Police Command with the offence of culpable homicide after the conclusion of a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to the police, the offence is punishable with death as captured in Section 220(a) and (b) of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 221 of the same Law.

Josephine Adeh said the evidence tendered before the Court revealed that the defendant and the deceased were friends.

“The defendant had organised a birthday celebration which the deceased attended, and a disagreement between both men subsequently escalated into a physical confrontation, culminating in the fatal incident.

“During the trial, the Prosecution led evidence establishing that the defendant assaulted the deceased by slapping and pushing him, causing him to fall and strike his head on a concrete surface. The deceased sustained fatal injuries and was subsequently confirmed dead.

“In its judgment delivered in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, the Court held that although the unlawful act of the defendant caused the death of the deceased, the requisite intention or knowledge necessary to sustain a conviction under Section 221 of the Penal Code was not established beyond reasonable doubt.

“The Court, however, held that the evidence adduced by the Prosecution established that the defendant unlawfully caused the death of the deceased and consequently convicted him of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code, sentencing him to life imprisonment”.