Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide over the death of his wife on April 8, 2022. The verdict followed the dismissal of Nwachukwu’s no-case submission and a detailed trial during which the court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Nwachukwu was first arraigned on June 3, 2022, on a 23-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Charges against him included culpable homicide, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Mrs Aderonke Imana, called 17 witnesses—including two of the deceased’s children—and tendered 25 exhibits. The defendant testified in his own defence, presenting four witnesses and submitting four exhibits.
Despite a plea for leniency from Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced him to death by hanging on Count 1. Additionally, Nwachukwu received various prison sentences ranging from six months to three years on other charges and was fined a total of N700,000.
Osinachi Nwachukwu rose to fame in 2017 after her collaboration with Prospa Ochimana on the gospel hit song Ekwueme. Her death sparked widespread outrage, with multiple colleagues alleging she suffered prolonged domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, leading to her untimely death at the age of 42.
Following her passing, the tragic circumstances surrounding her death ignited national conversations on domestic violence and spousal abuse, particularly within faith communities.
