Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi, has been sentenced to death by hanging by an FCT High Court in Abuja after being found guilty of culpable homicide

Justice Nwosu-Iheme of an FCT High Court Wuse Zone 2 in Abuja today delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.

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The court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of his wife, Osinachi, on April 8, 2022. Justice Nwosu-Iheme stated that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the guilty verdict.

Nwachukwu was initially arraigned on June 3, 2022, facing a 23-count charge brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on behalf of the Federal Government.

The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, and spousal battery.

The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of the late Osinachi’s children. The court also admitted 25 documents as exhibits. The defendant testified in his own defense and called four additional witnesses, tendering four exhibits.

Prior to the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency. However, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to uphold the law.

In her ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide). Additionally, he received two-year imprisonment sentences for each of Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18.

The court also sentenced him to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment on Count 11, and fines of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7.