By Emmanuel Nduka
Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The verdict which came as a relief for the singer’s family, was delivered by Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme on Monday, who found Nwachukwu guilty of culpable homicide following a high-profile trial that gripped the nation.
Arraigned in June 2022, Nwachukwu faced a 23-count charge ranging from spousal abuse and cruelty to criminal intimidation. The court concluded that the prosecution, led by Aderonke Imana, proved beyond reasonable doubt that his abusive conduct directly led to Osinachi’s death on April 8, 2022.
During the trial, 17 witnesses—including two of the couple’s children—gave emotional testimonies, backed by 25 exhibits.
Despite pleas for mercy by the defense, the judge handed down the death penalty for the lead count and additional prison terms with fines totaling N700,000 for other offenses.
Osinachi, famed for the gospel hit “Ekwueme,” was mourned nationwide after her tragic death at 42, with fellow artists and fans attributing her demise to years of domestic violence.
Her husband was arrested shortly after.
Homicide Law in Nigeria, Africa
In Nigeria, homicide is classified under the Criminal Code Act (applicable in southern Nigeria) and the Penal Code (applicable in the north).
Under Section 221 of the Penal Code, culpable homicide is punishable by death if the act is intentional and leads directly to the death of another.
Similarly, Section 319 of the Criminal Code prescribes the death penalty for anyone convicted of murder.
African legal systems often reflects colonial-era laws, and while the punishment for murder remains severe, including death by hanging or life imprisonment in many jurisdictions, some countries have been moving toward abolition of the death penalty.
Nigeria still retains capital punishment and continues to apply it in extreme criminal cases, especially when domestic violence escalates to fatality.
The late Osinachi’s case highlights not only the consequences of domestic violence, but also highlights the willingness of Nigerian courts to apply the full weight of the law in cases involving spousal abuse and homicide.
It also sends a strong message across Africa where, despite progress, domestic violence remains a deeply entrenched issue that often goes unpunished.
