Ekang Philip Bassey has been sentenced to life in prison by a Federal Capital Territory High Court for the killing of his friend, Emeka Nnonifu. The incident occurred on January 6, 2024, at a hotel in the Kubwa district during a birthday celebration. Justice M. S. Idris delivered the verdict following an investigation by the FCT Police Command.
FCT Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh stated that the trouble began when a dispute between the two friends turned into a physical altercation. Prosecutors demonstrated that Bassey pushed and slapped Nnonifu, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete. The resulting injuries proved fatal.
While the police originally sought a culpable homicide charge under Section 221 of the Penal Code, the court noted that the prosecution failed to prove the defendant specifically intended to kill his friend. Nevertheless, the court found Bassey guilty of causing death unlawfully under Section 224, leading to the life sentence.
