Abuja Court Sentences Ekang Bassey To Life For Friend’s Death

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has sentenced Ekang Bassey to life imprisonment over the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, after a disagreement at a birthday celebration in Kubwa, Abuja.

The FCT Police Command said the incident happened on January 6, 2024, and that the conviction followed an investigation by the command.

According to the police account reported by Daily Trust and Punch, Bassey and Nnonifu were friends, and Nnonifu had organised the birthday celebration that Bassey attended. A disagreement later escalated into a physical confrontation.

Prosecutors said Bassey slapped and pushed Nnonifu, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. The injury later proved fatal.

The case was first brought as culpable homicide punishable with death, but the court held that prosecutors did not prove the intention or knowledge needed for that charge beyond reasonable doubt.

The court instead convicted Bassey of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The police said the judgment was delivered in suit number FCT/HC/CR/330/2024.

Sources: Daily Trust, Punch