Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel artiste Osinachi, to death by hanging.
The court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide, leading to his wife’s death on April 8, 2022.
In the judgment, the court ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing Nwachukwu’s guilt.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), representing the Federal Government, had arraigned Nwachukwu on June 3, 2022, on a 23-count charge. The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other offenses.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, among them two children of the deceased who testified as the fourth and fifth witnesses. Additionally, 25 documents were tendered as exhibits.
For his defense, Nwachukwu testified personally, called four witnesses, and submitted four documents.
Prior to sentencing, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for mercy, asking the court for a lenient sentence. However, prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to enforce the law strictly.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently 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.
For Count 10, he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, while on Count 11, he received three years’ imprisonment. Additionally, he was fined ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 for Counts 6 and 7 respectively.