The Nigerian government has slammed a suit against Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu.
The 23-count charge against Mr Nwachukwu was instituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice on May 27.
The suit, CR/199/2022, was filed by the Head, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the ministry, Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
The charge is in accordance with Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Osinachi, the singer of popular gospel song “Ekwueme,” died on April 8 allegedly from beatings she got from her husband with whom he had four children. She was a member of the popular Dunamis International Gospel Centre, headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Nwachukwu was arrested on April 10 following a report lodged by Osinachi’s younger brother and has been in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.
Autopsy was performed on the late singer by a foremost hospital in the country, National Hospital, Abuja and released to the police, prompting the charges against Mr Nwachukwu.
Charges
Mr Nwachukwu was charged with culpable homicide, contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with death.
Count one reads, “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the 8th of April, 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your acts.”
Count two, “Statement of offence: Wilfully placing a person in fear of physical injury contrary to section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
