Justice was served in Abuja on Friday, April 25, 2025, as Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel star Osinachi Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for her tragic death in 2022. After a painstaking legal battle lasting nearly three years, the court found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide among other charges.
Peter Nwachukwu faced a 23-count charge brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), including spousal battery, child cruelty, and criminal intimidation. Evidence presented during the trial was overwhelming, with 17 witnesses — among them the couple’s two children — painting a grim picture of persistent domestic abuse leading up to Osinachi’s death on April 8, 2022.
The prosecution submitted 25 exhibits, including medical reports and testimonies from neighbors and family members, while Nwachukwu’s defense team called five witnesses and tendered four exhibits. Despite desperate pleas for mercy by his lawyer, Reginald Nwali, the court sided with the prosecution, represented by Mrs. Aderonke Imana, who insisted the full weight of the law must prevail.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme, during sentencing, ordered Nwachukwu to death by hanging for the culpable homicide charge, alongside additional penalties: two years’ imprisonment for seven separate counts of violence and intimidation, three years for another count, six months for another, and fines totaling ₦700,000.
The death sentence and the accompanying punishments sent shockwaves across Nigeria, where Osinachi’s death had already triggered nationwide outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections for victims of domestic violence. Her hit song “Ekwueme” had made her a beloved figure, and news of her suffering and eventual death devastated fans and the gospel music community alike.
Outside the courthouse, human rights activists and members of the public hailed the judgment as a powerful warning to abusers hiding behind marriage and religious appearances. Many said the verdict not only serves Osinachi’s memory but also gives hope to silent victims everywhere who suffer in fear.
With the judgment now concluded, Peter Nwachukwu is expected to face execution unless an appeal overturns the ruling — a move legal experts say is unlikely given the strength of the evidence presented. As Nigeria watches the aftermath unfold, the nation reflects once more on the urgent need to end domestic violence for good.
