ABUJA — Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel artist Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to several years in prison and ordered to pay heavy fines following his conviction by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2. The court, presided over by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, also included a death sentence in the ruling.
On counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18, the court imposed two-year jail terms each. Nwachukwu also received six months’ imprisonment on count 10, and three years on count 11. In addition, he was fined N500,000 and N200,000 on counts 6 and 7 respectively.
The ruling followed a well-documented trial where the prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including two of the deceased singer’s children, and tendered 25 documents. Nwachukwu, in his defense, called four witnesses and submitted four exhibits in an effort to counter the charges.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had filed a 23-count charge against him, covering culpable homicide, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation. The prosecution, led by Aderonke Imala, urged the court to deliver a ruling that reflected the seriousness of the offences, while the defense, through Reginald Nwali, pleaded for mercy.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, in her ruling, declared that the prosecution had successfully established the charges beyond reasonable doubt and, in addition to the prison terms and fines, handed down a death sentence by hanging—a decision that left the courtroom stunned.
