The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed 23-count charges against Peter Nwachukwu, the late popular gospel artist Osinachi’s husband, who died on April 8 after allegedly assaulting her.
The Attorney-General of the Federation charged him under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The defendant was charged with culpable homicide, a capital offense under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetun, Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, filed the case with charge number CR/199/2022 at the High Court of the Federal
The 42-year-old musician died after spending several days in an undisclosed Abuja hospital.
Police arrested Nwachukwu after colleagues of Osinachi, a lead singer at the Dunamis International Headquarters in Abuja, accused him of beating her.
Count one states, “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death on the 8th of April, 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, 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.
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, “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.”