Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been charged with 23 counts of culpable homicide.
Osinachi passed on on April 8 at the National Hospital in Abuja. She is alleged to have died from health complications following years of assault.
The Federal Government, through the office of the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice Abubakar Malami, charged Mr Nwachukwu under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The defendant was charged with culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code which is punishable with death.
The case was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on May 20, 2022, by the head of sexual and gender-based violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
Count one reads, “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the 8th of April, 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your acts.”
Count two reads, “Statement of offence: Wilfully placing a person in fear of physical injury contrary to section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
Popularly known for her hit song ‘Ekwueme’, Osinachi was a lead singer at the headquarters of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja. Her death has raised consciousness on the reality of domestic violence.
