Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a court in Abuja, nearly three years after her tragic passing shocked the nation.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2 handed down the judgment on Monday, declaring that the evidence against Nwachukwu was overwhelming and convincing. The court found him guilty of culpable homicide, ruling that he was responsible for the death of his wife, who died on April 8, 2022.
Nwachukwu had tried to argue that he had no case to answer, but the judge dismissed his arguments. In addition to the death sentence for the homicide charge, he was also handed various prison terms ranging from six months to three years for other offences, including domestic abuse, cruelty towards his children, and criminal intimidation. He was further fined a total sum of ₦700,000.
The once-respected gospel singer Osinachi, who touched millions with her powerful voice in songs like “Ekwueme,” reportedly endured years of physical and emotional abuse before her untimely death at the age of 42. After her passing, heartbreaking revelations emerged from friends, family members, and fellow musicians who accused Peter of being violent towards her.
The trial began after Peter was arraigned on June 3, 2022, and lasted several months. The prosecution, led by Mrs Aderonke Imana, presented 17 witnesses, including two of the late singer’s children and submitted 25 pieces of evidence to back their case. In his defence, Nwachukwu took the stand himself and called four witnesses, but it was not enough to sway the court.
Despite a last-minute plea for mercy from his lawyer, Reginald Nwali, Justice Nwosu-Iheme maintained that justice had to be served. The court’s verdict is seen as a strong message against domestic violence, a silent epidemic that continues to claim lives across the country.
Osinachi’s voice may have been silenced too soon, but Monday’s ruling brings some closure to her grieving family, fans, and a nation that had demanded justice ever since her tragic story came to light.
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