The Women Aid Collective (WACOL) has commended FCT High Court’s judgment sentencing Mr Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi, to death by hanging.
Recall that Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme had yesterday sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging over the death of the musician.
He was found him guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proved the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
The Office of the attorney-general of the federation, acting on behalf of the federal government had on June 3, 2022, arraigned the defendant on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
Although, Nwachukwu pleaded not guilty to the charge, the court however founding him guilty based on the evidence brought before the court by the prosecution.
In establishing its case against Osinachi’s husband, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the deceased, who testified as prosecution’s fourth and fifth witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively, as well as tendering 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
For his part, the convict who testified for himself also called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Delivering judgment after both parties had closed their cases, the court found the defendant guilty as charged and sentenced him accordingly.
While the court sentenced him to death by hanging on count 1, it imposed two years imprisonment each on counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months imprisonment on count 10 and three years on count 11.
Additionally, the defendant was fined N500, 000 and N200, 000 on counts 6 and 7 respectively.
Before the sentence was pronounced, counsel for the defendant, Mr Reginald Nwali, in his plea for leniency prayed the court to be humane in its judgment, while the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to mete out punishment stipulated by law.
Reacting to the conviction, the founder of WACOL, Prof Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, said “justice has finally been served” for Osinachi.
Describing the judgement as “well-deserved” WACOL expressed optimism that the landmark ruling would serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and offer hope to victims of gender-based violence, encouraging them to break their silence.
The group called for unwavering support for Osinachi’s family, particularly the mother and the three children raising the three children, who endured the traumatic experience.
“Justice has finally been served for the late gospel singer Osinachi, as the FCT High Court has convicted and sentenced her husband (Peter Nwachukwu) for her tragic death in April 2022. This landmark ruling not only acts as a deterrent to potential offenders but also offers hope to victims of gender-based violence, encouraging them to break their silence.
“The mother and the twin sibling, now raising the three children who endured this traumatic experience, deserve unwavering support. Let this victory for justice catalyse change and protection for everyone,” Ezeilo said.
