Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting at Wuse Zone 2, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for culpable homicide.
Delivering judgment, the court held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against Nwachukwu beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that his actions directly led to his wife’s death on April 8, 2022.
Nwachukwu, who was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government, faced a 23-count charge.
The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and related offences.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, who testified as Prosecution Witnesses Four and Five (PW4 and PW5). In addition, 25 documentary exhibits were tendered to the court.
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The defendant testified in his own defence and called four additional witnesses, while submitting four exhibits.
Prior to sentencing, defence counsel Reginald Nwali pleaded for leniency, while the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imana, urged the court to impose the maximum penalties as prescribed by law.
In her ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, which related to culpable homicide.
He was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18. On Count 10, he received a six-month prison term, and on Count 11, three years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, the court imposed fines of ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
The judgment brings to a close a high-profile case that drew widespread attention across Nigeria and beyond, highlighting issues of domestic violence and spousal abuse.
