Peter Nwachukwu, the widower of renowned gospel artist Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja’s Wuse Zone 2.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme handed down the verdict on Monday, after overruling Nwachukwu’s plea that he had no case to answer.
The court found him responsible for the death of his wife, which occurred on April 8, 2022, convicting him of culpable homicide.
On June 3, 2022, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, charged Peter Nwachukwu with 23 counts, including culpable homicide, in the death of his wife, gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses — including two of Nwachukwu’s children — and submitted 25 documentary exhibits. Nwachukwu, who pleaded not guilty, testified in his own defense, called four witnesses, and submitted four exhibits. While his lawyer appealed for leniency, the prosecution urged the court to ensure justice was served.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on one count, while imposing various prison terms ranging from six months to three years, and fines between N200,000 and N500,000, on other counts.
Osinachi’s case in court
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja had previously ruled in October 2023 that Nwachukwu had a case to answer, dismissing his no-case submission. The judge ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
The case was filed on May 20, 2022, by the Head of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
Nwachukwu was arrested shortly after his wife’s death and detained at the Lugbe Divisional Police Headquarters in Abuja. Family members had alleged that Osinachi suffered years of domestic abuse, leading to her death after days at an undisclosed hospital.
However, an autopsy conducted at the National Hospital in Abuja revealed no signs of physical violence. Instead, the report identified multiple medical conditions contributing to her death, including generalised organ pallor, bilateral leg swelling, fluid accumulation around the heart and lungs, tumour deposits in vital organs, and a massively enlarged heart.
Despite the autopsy findings, the prosecution pressed forward with the homicide case. Following the unsuccessful no-case submission by Nwachukwu’s lawyer, I.A. Aliyu, the court proceeded to full trial, culminating in Nwachukwu’s conviction and sentencing.
