Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE FCT High Court has handed down a life sentence to a man convicted of culpable homicide following a fatal altercation at a Kubwa hotel that began as a birthday celebration but ended in tragedy.
Ekang Philip Bassey was found guilty of unlawfully causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, during an incident on 6th January 2024.
The judgement, delivered on Thursday by Hon. Justice M. S. Idris in Court 25, concluded a case that had gripped the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT Police Command had originally charged Bassey with culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 220(a) and (b) of the Penal Code Law, following a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nnonifu’s death.
Evidence presented before the court painted a sombre picture of a friendship turned fatal. Bassey had organised a birthday gathering which the deceased attended, but a disagreement between the two men escalated into a physical confrontation.
Prosecutors proved that Bassey assaulted Nnonifu by slapping and pushing him, causing him to lose his balance and strike his head against a concrete surface.
The victim sustained catastrophic head injuries and was later pronounced dead.
In its ruling on Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, the court determined that while Bassey’s unlawful act had directly caused the death, the prosecution had not established beyond reasonable doubt the requisite intention or knowledge needed for a conviction under the stricter Section 221 of the Penal Code.
However, the judge found that the evidence overwhelmingly established unlawful causation of death, and Bassey was convicted under Section 224 of the Penal Code, receiving a life sentence.
The FCT Police Command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, reaffirmed its commitment to justice.
“The Command remains steadfast in ensuring that offenders are brought to book while upholding the rule of law and the constitutional rights of all persons,” the statement read.
The case serves as a stark reminder of how swiftly a moment of unchecked anger can shatter lives, leaving one family grieving and another facing the weight of a life behind bars.
