Abuja, Nigeria
An Abuja High Court has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late popular gospel singer, Osinachi, to death by hanging.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme delivered the ruling on Monday.
The court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging after finding him guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife, Osinachi, on April 8, 2022.
Delivering the judgment, the presiding judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully discharged the burden of proof.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, on a 23-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF). The charges included homicide, spousal and child cruelty, criminal intimidation, and domestic battery.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses—including the deceased’s two children, who testified as Prosecution Witnesses 4 and 5—and tendered 25 documentary exhibits.
In his defence, Nwachukwu testified on his behalf. His legal team presented four additional witnesses and submitted four exhibits.
At the sentencing hearing, defence counsel Reginald Nwali pleaded for leniency, while the prosecutor, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to impose the full penalties as prescribed by law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme 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 on count 10; and three years on count 11.
In addition, he was fined ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 on counts 6 and 7, respectively.
