Nigerian court sentences gospel singer Osinachi’s husband to death by h@nging for her murder

Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel music luminary Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been condemned to death by h@nging by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide in connection with the singer’s death on April 8, 2022—a tragedy that reverberated across Nigeria and reignited national dialogue on domestic violence within religious and social communities.

The court concluded that the prosecution, steered by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, surpassing the stringent evidentiary threshold required for such a conviction.

Nwachukwu, who faced arraignment on June 3, 2022, stood trial on a 23-count charge spanning homicide, spousal battery, child cruelty, and criminal intimidation.

Throughout the proceedings, the prosecution fielded 17 witnesses—including two of the Nwachukwus’ children—who recounted harrowing experiences of abuse. Their testimonies, bolstered by 25 documentary exhibits, unveiled a disturbing pattern of domestic violence hidden behind the façade of a thriving gospel career.

In his defense, Nwachukwu personally took the stand and summoned four witnesses, tendering four exhibits. Yet, the court found the evidence marshaled against him to be overwhelming, dismissing the defense’s submissions.

Ahead of sentencing, Nwachukwu’s counsel, Reginald Nwali, appealed for clemency, citing his client’s role as a father. Prosecutor Mrs. Aderonke Imana, however, urged the court to enforce the full measure of the law, arguing that justice for Osinachi—and for countless silent victims of domestic abuse—demanded no less.

In a stern ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme emphasized the enormity of the offense and the imperative of deterrence, imposing the death penalty on the first count of culpable homicide.

Additionally, the court sentenced Nwachukwu to two years’ imprisonment each on counts 2, 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 18; six months on count 10; and three years on count 11.

Fines were also levied: ₦500,000 on count 6 and ₦200,000 on count 7. All sentences are to run concurrently, according to a report.

Osinachi’s death—she who blessed millions with soul-stirring hymns such as ‘Ekwueme’—sparked a tidal wave of grief and calls for robust legal protections for domestic violence victims.

Across the nation, many view this judgment as a watershed moment—a resounding assertion that abuse, no matter how veiled behind marriage or fame, cannot be excused.