Joy Yesufu, Abuja
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for culpable homicide.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Nwosu-Iheme ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that Nwachukwu was responsible for his wife’s death on April 8, 2022.
Nwachukwu was first arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on behalf of the Federal Government.
He faced a 23-count charge encompassing culpable homicide, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, and tendered 25 documents as exhibits.
In his defense, Nwachukwu testified and presented four additional witnesses and four exhibits.
Before sentencing, his counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, while the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imala, urged the court to uphold the full force of the law.
In her judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide). He was also sentenced to:
Two years’ imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18,
Six months’ imprisonment on Count 10,
Three years’ imprisonment on Count 11,
And fines of N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
The case had drawn national attention, fueling wider conversations around domestic violence and spousal abuse in Nigeria.
