THE late gospel singer Osinachi’s husband, Peter Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging.
A judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at Wuse Zone 2, Njideka Nwosu-Ihemesitting, in a judgement delivered on Monday, April 28, found Nwachucku guilty of culpable homicide, which led to the singer’s death on April 8, 2022.
The court convicted the accused after determining the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nwachukwu was charged on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on behalf of the Federal Government.
He faced 23 charges, including culpable homicide, and the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of his children.
The prosecution presented 25 documentary exhibits, while Nwachukwu testified, called four witnesses, and submitted four exhibits. His lawyer sought leniency, but the prosecutor urged the court to ensure justice is served.
The judge sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on one count and imposed prison terms and fines on him on other counts, ranging from six months to three years and fines of N200,000 to N500,000.
The ICIR reported in 2023 that the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja told Nwachukwu that he had a case to answer regarding the death of his wife.
In a ruling on Tuesday, October 17, the court dismissed the no-case submission filed by Nwachukwu.
The judge, Nwosu-Iheme, declared in her ruling that the prosecution had proven its case against the defendant.
The defendant entered a not-guilty plea, and the court ordered that he be held at the Kuje detention facility pending further proceedings.
Throughout the trial, which started on June 20, 2022, the prosecution summoned 17 witnesses.
The case was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on May 20, 2022, by the Head of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
Nwachukwu was detained at the Lugbe Divisional Police Headquarters, Abuja, following his arrest shortly after his wife’s death.
He was arrested over allegations that he repeatedly assaulted his wife until she died from injuries she sustained.
Osinachi died after spending days at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.
The gospel artist’s death sparked anger after her family alleged that Nwachukwu subjected her to domestic violence.
Following an autopsy, the National Hospital in Abuja reported that the deceased bore no signs of violence.
Osinachi’s death was attributed to a variety of factors, according to the report, including “generalised organ pallor; bilateral leg swelling; fluid in the sac containing the heart; tumour deposits in and on the heart, lungs, and kidneys; a massively enlarged heart; and fluid around the lungs that restricted breathing.”
After the report, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, I.A. Aliyu, filed a no-case filing, ostensibly claiming that Nwachukwu had no case to answer.
According to Aliyu, the medical professionals’ testimony cleared Nwachukwu of the charges of culpable homicide and domestic violence.
He said the autopsy report showed that Osinachi’s death was caused by tumours that had grown outside her body, which led to cardiac tamponade, the primary cause of death, and abnormal tissue growth (cancer), the secondary cause of death.
He requested that the court clear his client of all charges.
The court rejected the no-case submission, and the defendant was then told to present his case.
The ICIR reports that Osinachi was popular among the Christian community for her inspirational songs.
A reporter with the ICIR
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