A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for culpable homicide in his wife’s death.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme delivered the judgment on Monday, dismissing Nwachukwu’s no-case submission and finding him guilty of the charges brought by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office. The court ruled that prosecutors had successfully proven their case beyond reasonable doubt.
The late Osinachi Nwachukwu, famous for the hit song “Ekwueme,” died on April 8, 2022, in circumstances that sparked national outrage and renewed conversations about domestic violence in Nigeria.
During the trial which began in June 2022, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, and submitted 25 exhibits. The defense called five witnesses, including the defendant, and presented four exhibits.
In addition to the death sentence for culpable homicide, Justice Nwosu-Iheme handed down various prison terms for other charges including spousal battery, child cruelty and criminal intimidation. These included two-year sentences for several counts, six months for one count, and fines totaling N700,000 for others.
The case had drawn widespread attention as it unfolded, with many Nigerians following proceedings closely. Women’s rights groups had staged protests demanding justice for Osinachi, whose death became a symbol of the fight against domestic violence in the country.
Defense counsel Reginald Nwali had pleaded for leniency during allocutus, while prosecution counsel Mrs. Aderonke Imala urged the court to apply the full weight of the law.
The judgment comes three years after Osinachi’s tragic death and represents one of Nigeria’s highest-profile domestic violence cases in recent years. Women’s rights advocates have hailed the verdict as a significant step in addressing gender-based violence in the country.
