Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
The judgment, delivered on charges stemming from the death of Osinachi on April 8, 2022, followed a detailed trial in which Justice Nwosu-Iheme ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide, leading to the capital sentence.
Nwachukwu had been arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government. He faced a 23-count charge, including culpable homicide, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and spousal battery.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, among them two of the deceased’s children, listed as PW4 and PW5.
In addition, 25 documentary exhibits were tendered before the court. The defence, in response, called five witnesses including Nwachukwu himself and submitted four exhibits.
Before the final judgment, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, appealed for leniency, while prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to uphold the full weight of the 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 imprisonment on Count 10; and three years on Count 11. Additionally, fines of N500,000 and N200,000 were imposed on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
