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

The fatal incident occurred on January 6, 2024, at a hotel in the Kubwa area of the nation’s capital.

According to a statement released by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the convict had organized a birthday party which the deceased attended. A heated argument broke out between the two friends, quickly escalating into a physical fight.

During the trial, the prosecution proved that Bassey assaulted Nnonifu by slapping and pushing him. The impact caused Nnonifu to fall and violently strike his head against a concrete floor. He sustained severe injuries and was later pronounced dead.

The FCT Police Command initially charged Bassey with premeditated culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code, an offence that carries the death penalty.

However, in the judgment delivered for Suit No. FCT/HC/CR/330/2024, Hon. Justice M. S. Idris ruled that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bassey had the deliberate intention or prior knowledge to kill his friend.

Consequently, the judge downgraded the charge and convicted Bassey under Section 224 of the Penal Code for unlawfully causing the death of the deceased, handing down a sentence of life imprisonment.