ABUJA, Nigeria — Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of culpable homicide.
Delivering judgment on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Nwosu-Iheme ruled that the prosecution, led by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court affirmed that Nwachukwu’s actions directly resulted in his wife’s death on April 8, 2022.
The Federal Government arraigned Nwachukwu on June 3, 2022, on a 23-count charge that included culpable homicide punishable by death, criminal intimidation, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and related offences.
During the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the deceased who testified as PW4 and PW5.
The prosecution also tendered 25 exhibits before the court. In his defence, Nwachukwu personally testified and called four witnesses, submitting four exhibits to support his case.
Ahead of sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency.
However, prosecuting counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to apply the full weight of the law given the severity of the crime.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, after reviewing the evidence and arguments, sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide).
On other counts, including criminal intimidation and spousal battery, he received two years’ imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, and six years’ imprisonment on Count 10.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile case that shocked Nigeria and reignited national conversations about domestic violence and spousal abuse.
