Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi, was sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide, found guilty of causing her death in April 2022. He received additional sentences for other charges, including imprisonment and fines.

Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court, Wuse Zone 2, in Abuja, on Monday, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi, to death by hanging. Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide for causing the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.

The judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully met the burden of proof required by law, leading to the conviction of the defendant.

Nwachukwu had been arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), representing the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge. These charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, and more.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5, respectively). Additionally, the prosecution submitted 25 documents as exhibits for the court's consideration.

The defendant provided his testimony and called four other witnesses to testify in his defense, presenting four exhibits in support of his case.

Before sentencing, the defendant's counsel, Reginald Nwali, made an allocutus plea, urging the court to show leniency in its judgment. On the other hand, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, requested that the court uphold the law as prescribed.

In its ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1. For the other counts, the court sentenced him to two years of imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18. Nwachukwu was also sentenced to six months of imprisonment on Count 10, three years of imprisonment on Count 11, and fined N500,000 and N200,000 for Counts 6 and 7, respectively. (NAN)