By affedzie 
Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja. The judgment was delivered on Monday, April 28, 2025, by Justice Nwosu-Iheme.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide leading to the tragic death of his wife, which occurred on April 8, 2022. The court ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), representing the Federal Government, had arraigned Nwachukwu on June 3, 2022, on a 23-count charge. These charges included culpable homicide punishable by death, spousal battery, criminal intimidation, and cruelty to children.
Throughout the trial, 17 witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, testified for the prosecution. A total of 25 documentary exhibits were also presented in support of the case. The defense, led by counsel Reginald Nwali, called five witnesses, including Nwachukwu himself, and tendered four exhibits.
During the sentencing, Nwali pleaded for leniency, while the prosecution urged the court to uphold the law without compromise. Justice Nwosu-Iheme sentenced Peter Nwachukwu to:
- Death by hanging on Count 1 (culpable homicide)
- Two years’ imprisonment each for Counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18
- Six months for Count 10
- Three years for Count 11
- Fines of ₦500,000 and ₦200,000 for Counts 6 and 7, respectively
This landmark ruling brings a close to a deeply tragic story that shocked Nigeria and the gospel music community in 2022. Osinachi Nwachukwu’s death sparked national conversations about domestic violence and the urgent need for protection of vulnerable individuals in marital homes.
