A Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced Ekang Bassey to life imprisonment for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, following a dispute at a birthday celebration in the Kubwa area of Abuja.
The conviction was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh.
She said the judgment followed a thorough police investigation into the incident, which occurred on January 6, 2024.
According to the statement, Bassey was initially charged with culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 220(a) and (b) and punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
The police said evidence before the court showed that the defendant and the deceased were friends and that Nnonifu had organised the birthday party, which Bassey attended.
“A disagreement between both men subsequently escalated into a physical confrontation, culminating in the fatal incident,” the statement read.
According to the prosecution, Bassey assaulted the deceased by slapping and pushing him, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface, resulting in fatal injuries.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, the court held that although Bassey’s unlawful act caused Nnonifu’s death, the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had the intention or knowledge required to sustain a conviction under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
The court, however, found him guilty of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
“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,” the statement added.
The command noted that the judgment underscored its commitment to ensuring that offenders are brought to justice while upholding the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all persons.
Credit: punchng.com
