Four years after trial: Late gospel singer Osinachi’s widower sentenced to death for murder
Four years after trial on murder of Osinachi, a Nigerian gospel singer, the deceased husband Peter Nwachukwu has been sentenced to death by the High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Penpushing reports that Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide, with the court adjudging him to cause the death of the deceased (his wife) on April 8, 2022, and he is to die by hanging
The convict was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on 23 charges, including culpable homicide punishable with death and during during the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses.
Penpushing further reports that other charges include criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, while the prosecution tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The 42-year-old musician was a lead singer at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, while many of her colleagues accused her husband of subjecting her to domestic violence, leading to her death.
Penpushing also reports that Osinachi, shot into the limelight with the hit, “Ekwueme”, which she sang alongside Prospa Ochimana, however, it was initially reported that she died of throat cancer.
The family shortly and friends after the news of her death went viral, lamenting that her union with Peter Nwachukwu was a violent one and the husband was arrested on April 11, 2022, after Osinachi’s younger brother reported a case of culpable homicide against him and thereafter arraigned
Penpushing reports that he appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on May 27, 2022 for the first time, where he was charged with 23 counts, and in June 2022, said his wife died from lung cancer, adding that he never hit his late wife, contrary to public opinion.
The father-of-four on arraignment pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in June 2022, lamenting that he had suffered a lot and abandoned, insisting that his wife his wife died of lung cancer
“Let me tell the whole world, I have suffered a lot. I have been abandoned. What killed my wife was cancer of the lungs; I didn’t hit my wife. Cancer of the lungs killed my wife, Osinachi Nwachukwu, so I’m suffering for what I do not know!”, he said
Penpushing further reports that after the defendant’s arraignment in June, the judge, Justice Nwosu-Iheme remanded him Kuje correctional centre in Abuja while the trial was adjourned. However, the defendant testified in the defence of himself, called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits.
The prosecution Aderonke Imala equally accused the defendant of subjecting the deceased to emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, contrary to section 14(1) of the VAP Act, 2015, and urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Penpushing also reports the judge held that the prosecution discharged the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty, but shortly before sentencing, the defence lawyer Reginald Nwali in his “allocutus” (plea for mercy), pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgement.
The judge subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18, as well as six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively.
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