Peter Nwachukwu Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Culpable Homicide of Late Gospel Singer Osinachi

Peter Nwachukwu, Late Gospel singer Osinachi's husband, Left, Osinachi, Right

Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court, 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 resulting in the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.

The court ruled that the prosecution had successfully discharged the burden of proof required by law, leading to Nwachukwu’s conviction. He was initially arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on behalf of the Federal Government, facing a 23-count charge that included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other related offences.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, among them two of the late singer’s children who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5). Additionally, the prosecution tendered 25 documents as exhibits to support its case.

In his defence, Nwachukwu testified on his own behalf and called four other witnesses, submitting four exhibits in an attempt to counter the prosecution’s claims.

Before the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency during the allocutus, while the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to uphold the strict letter of the law.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme ultimately sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 and imposed two years' imprisonment each for Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18.