Court Sentences Osinachi’s Husband, Peter Nwachukwu, to Death

By Esi-ife Arogundade

 On Monday, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi, to death by hanging.

Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide in connection with his wife’s death on April 8, 2022. The judge stated that the prosecution had fulfilled its burden of proof and determined the defendant’s guilt.

 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 total of 23 charges, including culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other offenses.

During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of Osinachi’s children, who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5, respectively).

 Additionally, the prosecution presented 25 documents as evidence. The defendant testified in his defence and called four other witnesses while also submitting four exhibits.

 Before sentencing, the defense attorney, Reginald Nwali, urged the court to be lenient in its judgment. Conversely, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, requested that the court uphold the law. Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1.

For Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, he received two years in prison on each count, while he was sentenced to six months on Count 10 and three years on Count 11. Additionally, he was fined N500,000 and N200,000 for Counts 6 and 7 respectively.