Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late popular Nigerian gospel singer, Osinachi, has been sentenced to death by hanging following his conviction for culpable homicide.
Naturenex reports that Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, delivered the ruling after finding Peter guilty of causing the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.
In passing the judgment, the court stated that the prosecution had successfully discharged the burden of proof required by law, thereby holding the defendant responsible.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), acting for the Federal Government, had arraigned Peter Nwachukwu on June 3, 2022. He faced a 23-count charge, which included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, spousal battery, and other offences.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses. Among them were two of the late Osinachi’s children, who appeared as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5). Additionally, 25 documents were admitted as evidence.
For his defence, the convict testified in his own case and called four additional witnesses, tendering four documents as exhibits.
Before the sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded with the court for leniency. On the other hand, prosecuting counsel Aderonke Imala urged the court to strictly apply the provisions of the law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme thereafter sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. He was also handed two-year prison terms on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18.
In addition, the court sentenced him to six months in prison on Count 10, three years on Count 11, and fines of N500,000 and N200,000 on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
