Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide, which led to the death of his wife on April 8, 2022. In delivering the judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme held that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, fulfilling the legal burden of proof required to secure a conviction.
The defendant was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on behalf of the Federal Government on a 23-count charge. The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other related offenses.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the deceased’s children who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5). Additionally, the prosecution tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
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In his defense, Nwachukwu testified personally and called four other witnesses, presenting four exhibits to support his case.
Before the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded with the court to show leniency. However, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to apply the full weight of the law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. He was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18. On Count 10, he received a six-month jail term, while he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Count 11. In addition, he was fined ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
NAN