Court Remands Osinachi’s Husband in Kuje Prison

A High Court in Abuja under trial Justice N.K. Nwosu-Iheme yesterday ordered  Peter Nwachukwu, accused of killing his wife, the late gospel singer, Osinachi, to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility until the hearing and determination of a suit the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, instituted against him.

Osinachi died on April 8, this year, allegedly from wounds she sustained from attacks by her husband prompting his arrest by the police and has been in detention since then.

Nwachukwu was thus arraigned for contravening Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; Section 221 of the Penal Code; and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act  2015.

The charges are: “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.

“Particular of offence: That you, Peter Nwachukwu, male, sometime between 14th November 2009 and April 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit: emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu (deceased) by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members.”

Justice Nwosu-Iheme ordered that Nwachukwu, who pleaded not guilty to the 23 counts bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others, should appear before the court on June 16 by 12 noon and on June 17 by 9a.m.

Prior to giving the order, Justice Nwosu-Iheme said, “The business for today is for arraignment, accelerated hearing is hereby ordered.”

She then said, “Defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”