From L to R: Peter Nwachukwu and Osinachi Nwachukwu
Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, following his conviction for the culpable homicide of his wife.
Delivering the judgment on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, linking Peter Nwachukwu to the death of his wife, which occurred on April 8, 2022.
Peter Nwachukwu was initially arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General on behalf of the Federal Government.
He faced a 23-count charge encompassing culpable homicide, domestic violence, child cruelty, criminal intimidation, and other offenses.
During the trial, the prosecution team called a total of 17 witnesses, among them two of the deceased’s children, who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution also tendered 25 exhibits in support of their case.
In response, Nwachukwu took the stand himself and brought forward four witnesses in his defence, submitting four exhibits to the court.
Prior to sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, appealed for mercy on behalf of his client.
However, lead prosecutor Mrs. Aderonke Imala urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme then handed down a death sentence by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide).
Nwachukwu was also given two years’ imprisonment on Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, three years’ imprisonment for Count 11, and six-months’ imprisonment for Count 10.
AK/EB
