Abuja: An Abuja High Court: on Thursday sentenced a 56-year-old Civil Servant, Philip Bassey, to life imprisonment for causing the death of his friend, Emeka Nonyelu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, delivering judgment, Justice Idris Mohammed held that the court found him guilty based on the evidence before the court and the statement of the defendant admitting to the crime. The eye witness’ account was deemed sufficient and legally acceptable, establishing that an accused could be guilty of murder regardless of the time elapsed since the death occurred.
Justice Mohammed explained, “Once the prosecution counsel proves cause of death, autopsy is not an absolute requirement for a conviction for murder. Autopsy is strictly necessary when the cause of death is unknown.” The Prosecution Counsel, Adama Musa, provided a clear picture of the tragic occurrence that led to the victim’s death, indicating that the defendant’s actions, although not intended to kill, resulted in Nonyelu’s demise.
Bassey was convicted under section 224 of the Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment. Section 224 specifies that anyone committing culpable homicide not punishable by death shall face life imprisonment or a lesser term, or a fine, or both.
Earlier, Musa stated that Bassey and Nonyelu had an altercation, during which Bassey slapped Nonyelu and pushed him, causing him to fall and hit his head on the concrete at Airlington Hotel in Kubwa on January 6, 2024. Bassey’s actions rendered Nonyelu unconscious, leading to his death days later. The offence contravened the provisions of sections 220 (a), (b) of the Penal Code and is punishable under 221.
In his allocutus, Bassey pleaded for mercy from the court.