A judge has sentenced Peter Nwachukwu to death by hanging for the killing of his wife, Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu.
The court found Peter guilty of 23 charges, including culpable homicide. He had denied all the charges.
Osinachi Nwachukwu died three years ago at age 42. At first, people believed she died of throat cancer. Later, her family accused her husband of domestic violence.
They said his abuse caused her death. The High Court in Abuja agreed with the family. Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The authorities rarely carry out death sentences in Nigeria. Peter has the right to appeal.
Police arrested Peter in 2022. Prosecutors also charged him with emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse. He faced charges of cruelty to children and threatening them.
Seventeen people testified against him. Two of them were the couple’s children.
The case received wide attention in Nigeria. Many people followed it closely because of the singer’s fame and concerns about domestic abuse.
Osinachi was a mother of four. She became famous after her 2017 hit gospel song Ekwueme, which has over 136 million views on YouTube.
