Man jailed for life for killing friend during his birthday party in Abuja hotel

By Johnson Arua

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Ekang Bassey to life imprisonment for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu, during a birthday celebration at a hotel in Kubwa, Abuja.

The conviction was secured by the FCT Police Command after Justice M. S. Idris of High Court 25 found Bassey guilty of culpable homicide in a judgment delivered in Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed in a statement that the incident occurred on January 6, 2024, following an altercation between the convict and the deceased during a birthday party organised by Nnonifu.

According to Adeh, police investigations revealed that the two men, who were friends, engaged in a disagreement that escalated into a physical confrontation.

She said the prosecution established before the court that Bassey slapped and pushed the deceased, causing him to fall and hit his head on a concrete surface. Nnonifu sustained severe injuries and was later confirmed dead.

The police had initially arraigned the defendant on a charge of culpable homicide punishable with death under Sections 220(a) and (b), and Section 221 of the Penal Code Law after concluding investigations into the incident.

However, Justice Idris held that although Bassey's unlawful actions directly caused the victim's death, the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he had the intention or knowledge required to sustain a conviction for culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.

The court consequently convicted Bassey under Section 224 of the Penal Code for culpable homicide not punishable with death and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Reacting to the judgment, the FCT Police Command reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of crime while upholding the rule of law and protecting the constitutional rights of all persons.