Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
The court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of Osinachi on April 8, 2022. Delivering judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme 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 a 23-count charge, which included culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and other offenses.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses — including two of the deceased singer’s children — and tendered 25 exhibits before the court. Nwachukwu testified in his own defense, calling four witnesses and submitting four exhibits.
Before the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, while the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to uphold the full weight of the law.
In the final ruling, the court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. He also received 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 was fined N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.
