Barely 35 months after the death of popular gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.

Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.

Delivering judgment on Monday, the judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, thus finding the defendant guilty.

Peter Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on a 23-count charge, including culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses—including two of the late singer’s children—and tendered 25 documents as exhibits.

The defendant, in his defence, testified personally and called four other witnesses, presenting four exhibits.

Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, but the prosecution, led by Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to enforce the full weight of the law.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Peter Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide).

Additionally, he received two years’ imprisonment each for counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months’ imprisonment for count 10; and three years’ imprisonment for count 11. He was also fined N500,000 and N200,000 respectively for counts 6 and 7.

Source: The Nation