Court Jails Man for Life Over Friend’s Death After Birthday Fight

(Nigeria Court. Photo by Vanguard)

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

This was disclosed in a statement released Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, who said the conviction followed a thorough investigation into the incident, which occurred on January 6, 2024.

According to the statement, Bassey was originally charged with culpable homicide punishable with death, contrary to Section 220(a) and (b) of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 221 of the same law.

Evidence presented in court showed that the defendant and the deceased were friends, and that the deceased had organised the birthday celebration which Bassey attended, before a disagreement between the two escalated into a physical altercation that ultimately turned fatal.

Police said the prosecution established during trial that the defendant assaulted the deceased by slapping and pushing him, causing him to fall and strike his head on a concrete surface, resulting in injuries that led to his death.

In its judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, the court found that although the defendant’s unlawful act caused the death of the deceased, the prosecution failed to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, the intention or knowledge required to sustain a conviction under Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The court, however, held that the evidence sufficiently proved that the defendant unlawfully caused the deceased’s death, and accordingly convicted him of culpable homicide under Section 224 of the Penal Code, sentencing him to life imprisonment.

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