Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, on Friday pleaded not guilty to 23 counts bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Wuse.
Following his plea, Justice N.K. Nwosu-Iheme ordered that Mr Nwachukwu should be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing and determination of the homicide-related suit instituted against him by the attorney-general of the federation.
The trial was adjourned to June 16 and June 17. The judge also ordered accelerated hearing.
Osinachi died on April 8 at the National Hospital, Abuja. She is alleged to have been subjected to years of domestic abuse.
The government claimed that Nwachukwu contravened Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 221 of the Penal Code; and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act 2015.
Part of the charges read: “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 wit: 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.
“Statement of offence: Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse contrary to Section 14(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
Some of the counts such as culpable homicide recommend death penalty, one-year jail term or fine among others.
