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In a landmark judgment delivered today, April 28, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
The court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide in connection with Osinachi’s tragic death on April 8, 2022. In delivering the judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme stated that the prosecution had successfully discharged the burden of proof required by law, leading to the conviction.
Peter Nwachukwu was first 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 punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and other serious offenses.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of Osinachi’s children (who testified as Prosecution Witnesses 4 and 5). The team also tendered 25 documentary exhibits to strengthen their case. On the defense side, Nwachukwu testified and called four other witnesses, presenting four exhibits in his defense.
Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency. However, the prosecution, led by Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to apply the full weight of the law.
Ultimately, the court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. Additionally, he received two years’ imprisonment each for Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, six months’ imprisonment on Count 10, and three years on Count 11. He was also fined ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 for Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
Today’s verdict marks the end of a highly emotional case that gripped the nation and serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of domestic violence.
