The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for her death, which occurred on April 8, 2022.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Nwosu-Iheme found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide, ruling that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt.
Osinachi’s death, initially rumoured to have been caused by throat cancer, was later revealed through testimonies from family members, neighbours, and church associates to have been a result of persistent domestic abuse. Witnesses told the court that Nwachukwu had kicked her in the chest shortly before her demise.
Following investigations, the defendant was arrested and arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on a 23-count charge. The charges included culpable homicide (punishable by death), spousal battery, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, among other offences.
The prosecution, led by Mrs. Aderonke Imana, presented 17 witnesses, among them two children of the late singer, and tendered 25 documents as evidence. In his defence, Nwachukwu called four witnesses and submitted four exhibits.
During the trial, several witnesses described the late singer as a long-time victim of domestic violence. One of the children testified, saying, “Daddy kicked mummy on the chest. She fell down and didn’t get up again.”
Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for mercy, urging the court to temper justice with compassion. However, the prosecution insisted that the law must take its full course.
In her ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared, “The evidence before this court is overwhelming. The defendant inflicted physical harm on his wife, which led to her death. This court has no option but to impose the full weight of the law.”
The court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 relating to culpable homicide. On the other counts, he was handed various sentences, including two years imprisonment on several charges, six months on another, and fines of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively.
