Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme delivered the judgment on Monday after dismissing Nwachukwu’s no-case submission.
The court found him guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the death of his wife on April 8, 2022.
Nwachukwu, who was arraigned on June 3, 2022, faced a 23-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation
The charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, cruelty to children, and criminal intimidation.
Delivering judgment on Monday, the judge ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, thus finding the defendant guilty.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two of the late singer’s children and tendered 25 documents as exhibits.
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The defendant, in his defence, testified personally and called four other witnesses, presenting four exhibits.
Before sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, pleaded for leniency, but the prosecution, led by Mrs. Aderonke Imala, urged the court to enforce the full weight of the law.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Peter Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide).
Additionally, he received two years’ imprisonment each for counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months’ imprisonment for count 10; and three years’ imprisonment for count 11. He was also fined N500,000 and N200,000 respectively for counts 6 and 7.