Peter Nwachukwu, widower of Nigeria’s renowned gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing his wife three years ago.
He was also sentenced to two years imprisonment on seven other counts, six months in one count and three years on another count. He was also fined N500,000 and N200,000 on two other counts.
Mr Nwachukwu was sentenced by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday April 28.
The court found him guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of his wife on April 8,2022. He has a right to appeal.
Justice Iheme said the prosecution had proven the burden of proof required by law and subsequently found Mr Nwachukwu guilty.
On June 2, 2022, he was arraigned by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on behalf of the federal government.
Culpable homicide is punishable by death.
While the trial was on, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of Nwachukwu’s children. Both testified as fourth and fifth witnesses, respectively.
The defendants called four witnesses and tendered four exhibits while the prosecution tendered 25 documents as exhibits.
Osinachi, 42, and mother of four, was initially reported to have died of throat cancer before her family publicly disclosed that she died due to domestic violence.
The family alleged that Mr Nwachukwu abused the singer, leading to her death. He denied the allegation.
The late gospel artiste, a member of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Abuja, founded by popular pastor, Dr Paul Enenche.
She featured on the 2017 hit gospel son “Ekwueme” which has more than 136 million views on YouTube. She had collaborated with another gospel singer, Prospa Ochimana, as a member of the DIGC, for the song.
The Nigerian authorities rarely execute those sentenced to death.
