Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. The judgment was delivered on Monday by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, following a detailed trial in which the court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide and several other criminal charges.
Osinachi, who came into the limelight in 2017 with her collaboration on the gospel hit song Ekwueme with Prospa Ochimana, died on April 8, 2022, at the age of 42. Her death stirred nationwide outrage after multiple colleagues and family members alleged that she had suffered years of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband. Following her passing, Peter Nwachukwu was arrested and formally charged with the offences leading to her death.
Nwachukwu was 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 including culpable homicide, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, and cruelty to children. In a bid to halt proceedings, the defendant filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not proven its case. However, Justice Nwosu-Iheme dismissed the submission, ruling that the evidence provided was sufficient to proceed and ultimately convict.
The prosecution presented a strong case, calling 17 witnesses, including two of the deceased’s children, who testified as Prosecution Witnesses 4 and 5 (PW4 and PW5). In addition, the prosecution tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court. In his defence, Nwachukwu testified on his own behalf and brought forward four additional witnesses and four exhibits.
In her judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. She emphasized that the burden of proof required by law had been met, and as a result, Peter Nwachukwu was found guilty of the primary charge of culpable homicide, which is punishable by death under Nigerian law.
During the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, Reginald Nwali, pleaded with the court for leniency, citing the allocutus process. However, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imana (also reported as Imala), urged the court to uphold the full weight of the law, emphasizing the severity of the crimes and their consequences.
Ultimately, the court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide). Additional sentences included 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. He was also fined N500,000 on Count 6 and N200,000 on Count 7.
The sentencing marks the culmination of a high-profile case that drew national attention to the issues of domestic violence and spousal abuse in Nigeria. The conviction and subsequent sentencing of Peter Nwachukwu signal a significant moment in the fight for justice for victims of domestic violence.
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