Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
The judgement, delivered on Tuesday, follows the court’s finding that Nwachukwu was guilty of culpable homicide in connection with Osinachi’s death on April 8, 2022. The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and related offences.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, and tendered 25 documentary exhibits. Nwachukwu testified in his own defence, calling four additional witnesses and submitting four exhibits.
Ahead of sentencing, defence counsel Reginald Nwali pleaded for leniency, while prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to apply the full weight of the law.
In addition to the death sentence on Count 1, Justice Nwosu-Iheme imposed 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. The defendant was also fined N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.
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