An FCT High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Presiding Judge, Justice Nwosu-Iheme, delivered the ruling after finding Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife, who died on April 8, 2022. The court held that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government, facing a 23-count charge including culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and other related offences.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, among them two of the couple’s children who testified as Prosecution Witnesses 4 and 5. In addition, 25 documentary exhibits were presented in court.
In his defence, Nwachukwu testified personally and called four other witnesses, presenting four exhibits.
Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency in his allocutus. However, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to impose the full weight of the law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. Additionally, he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18. On Count 10, he received a six-month jail term, and on Count 11, a three-year sentence. The court also imposed fines of N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
The ruling brings a significant close to a case that captured national attention, highlighting issues of domestic abuse and spousal violence.
