ABUJA, NIGERIA — The widower of renowned Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu has been sentenced to death by hanging for his role in her death three years ago.
Peter Nwachukwu, 42, was initially said to have lost his wife to throat cancer. However, her family later accused him of subjecting her to severe domestic abuse, which ultimately led to her death. Nwachukwu was convicted of 23 charges, including culpable homicide, with the court handing down the maximum sentence for the crime.
Despite denying the charges, Peter Nwachukwu faces the possibility of execution, although it is unclear if the death sentence will be carried out, as Nigeria rarely enforces such penalties. He has the legal right to appeal the ruling.
The case, which was held in the High Court in Abuja, attracted significant attention due to Osinachi’s prominence in the Nigerian gospel music scene. The late singer, who is survived by four children, was well-known for her 2017 hit song Ekwueme, which has garnered over 136 million views on YouTube.
Nwachukwu’s conviction also included charges of emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse, cruelty to their children, and criminal intimidation. Seventeen witnesses, including two of the couple’s children, testified against him during the trial.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, in her ruling, stated that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, affirming the conviction.
