On April 28, 2025, Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Nigeria, sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Peter Nwachukwu was found guilty of terminating her life on April 8, 2022.
The court determined that the prosecution successfully met its burden of proof under the law, leading to Peter Nwachukwu’s conviction.
He was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) on a total of 23 charges, specifically punishable by death, as well as charges of criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, and spousal battery.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of Osinachi’s children, who testified as the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses (PW4 and PW5). Additionally, 25 documents were submitted as exhibits.
The defence called Peter Nwachukwu as a witness and presented four additional witnesses along with four exhibits.
As the sentencing approached, Peter Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, appealed to the court for leniency.
Conversely, the prosecution’s counsel, Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to enforce the law rigorously.
In addition to the death sentence for the primary charge, Peter Nwachukwu received varying terms of imprisonment for several other charges: two years for Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months for Count 10; and three years for Count 11. He was also fined on Counts 6 and 7, though the specific amounts were not disclosed.
Yewande Gbola-Awopetun, Head of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, filed the case with charge number CR/199/2022 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja on May 20, 2022, Premium Times reports.
The Attorney-General of the Federation charged him under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Mr Nwachukwu was charged with culpable murder under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by death. The federal government claimed that the defendant violated the deceased’s liberty by restricting her movement and shutting her up in the residence.
Lawyer Pleads for Life Sentence for Nwachukwu
A prominent Abuja-based lawyer, Stan Alieke, sparked a debate over the recent death sentence handed to Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel singer Osinachi.
On April 28, a Lagos High Court sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging for the tragic death of his wife, Osinachi, who was a victim of domestic violence.
While Alieke acknowledges the importance of holding the guilty accountable for their actions, he argued that the death penalty, in this case, might be too harsh, especially considering the impact it would have on the couple’s children. “In as much as I’m a strong advocate for the guilty not to go unpunished, this case should be a reason why the death sentence should be abolished,” Alieke said.
He emphasized the emotional toll that the death of their father would have on the children, who have already lost their mother.
Alieke’s statement resonates with a growing concern about the consequences of punitive measures, particularly when it comes to young children who have been left without parental guidance.
He contends that while some may argue that the children are better off without a father who has caused harm, the reality is more complex.
“The kids will beg to differ,” Alieke asserted. He suggests that a life sentence would allow the children the opportunity to visit their father in prison, offering them a chance for some semblance of familial connection.
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