The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for her murder.
Mr. Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide, with the court holding him responsible for causing his wife’s death on 8 April 2022. The trial judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully discharged the burden of proof required by law.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) had arraigned Mr. Nwachukwu on 3 June 2022, bringing 23 charges against him, including culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, and cruelty to children.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, and tendered 25 documents as evidence. The defence, in turn, presented five witnesses, including Mr. Nwachukwu himself, and submitted four exhibits.
Before sentencing, the defence lawyer, Reginald Nwali, made a plea for mercy. However, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imala, urged the court to strictly uphold the law. In delivering judgment, the court sentenced Mr. Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide) and imposed varying prison terms and fines on the remaining counts, including two years each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months on Count 10; three years on Count 11; and fines of N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.
Osinachi Nwachukwu, a lead singer at Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, rose to fame with the hit song “Ekwueme” alongside Prospa Ochimana. Initial reports attributed her death to throat cancer. However, after her passing, family members and colleagues alleged a history of domestic violence at the hands of her husband.
Mr. Nwachukwu was arrested on 11 April 2022 after Osinachi’s brother filed a case of culpable homicide against him. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment and maintained that his wife died of lung cancer, not abuse.
Despite his denials, testimonies from witnesses and evidence presented during the trial convinced the court otherwise, leading to Monday’s judgment.