- Peter Nwachukwu, husband of gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, sentenced to death by hanging
- He was found guilty of culpable homicide after years of alleged domestic abuse led to his wife's death
- Nwachukwu faced a 23-count charge, including spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation
Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the 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.
His arrest and subsequent conviction stemmed from allegations that he subjected his wife to prolonged domestic violence, which ultimately led to her death on April 8, 2022.
Following Osinachi’s sudden death at the age of 42, colleagues, family members, and friends accused Peter of being physically and emotionally abusive throughout their marriage.
These allegations sparked national outrage and prompted a thorough investigation, leading to his arrest by law enforcement authorities.
Peter Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on a 23-count charge.
The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation, among others.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, and presented 25 exhibits in court to establish a pattern of abuse.
Despite his defense, during which he testified and called four additional witnesses, Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
As a result, the court dismissed Nwachukwu’s no-case submission and found him guilty of culpable homicide.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced him to death by hanging on Count 1, which involved the unlawful death of his wife.
He was also handed additional prison terms, two years each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months on Count 10; and three years on Count 11.
Furthermore, he was fined N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, but the court maintained that the severity of the crime demanded the full weight of justice.
The prosecution, represented by Mrs. Aderonke Imana, urged the court to uphold the law accordingly.
Osinachi Nwachukwu rose to national prominence in 2017 with her feature on the gospel hit Ekwueme alongside Prospa Ochimana.
Her tragic death highlighted the often-hidden dangers of domestic abuse and brought renewed focus on the need for stronger protections for victims in Nigeria.
Haspil sentenced to 40 years for murder of Gokada boss Saleh
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Tyrese Haspil, who was convicted of the brutal murder and dismemberment of his former boss, tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, along with stealing about $400,000, was sentenced to a term of 40 years to life in prison.
Haspil killed Saleh because he was concerned that Saleh might uncover his ongoing embezzlement activities, according to the prosecutors.