Justice Njideka K. Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Wuse Zone 2, has announced a pivotal date in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case of Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi.
Mr. Nwachukwu stands accused of domestic violence and homicide in connection with his wife’s tragic passing on April 8, 2022.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed the suit against Nwachukwu on June 3, 2022, following allegations from colleagues in the music industry that he had subjected his wife to maltreatment, ultimately leading to her demise. Subsequently, the Police arrested Nwachukwu, and the case was transferred to the OAGF for prosecution.
Upon his arraignment, Justice Nwosu-Iheme remanded the defendant at the Kuje Correctional Facility. Nwachukwu pleaded not guilty to 23 charges, including domestic violence and homicide, among others.
The trial commenced on June 20, 2022, with the prosecution presenting 17 witnesses over several months and finally closing its case on March 10, 2023.
An autopsy report on the deceased had revealed no signs of violence, citing the causes of death as “generalized organ pallor, bilateral leg swelling, fluid in the sac containing the heart, tumor deposits in and on the heart, lungs, kidneys, and a massively enlarged heart.”
The report attributed the primary cause of death to cardiac tamponade due to outgrowth tumors and identified abnormal tissue growth (cancer) as the secondary cause of death.
In response to these findings, Nwachukwu’s lawyer, A. Aliyu, submitted a “no case” application, arguing that his client had no case to answer.
Aliyu highlighted the testimony of medical practitioners presented by the prosecution, which he claimed absolved Nwachukwu from culpable homicide.
He accused Nwachukwu’s in-laws of attempting to frame him and emphasized that the autopsy report showed no signs of violence on the deceased.
Aliyu also contested the credibility of the children’s testimony, alleging that they had been “tutored” on what to say.
During the recent court proceedings, Aliyu urged the court to accept his client’s no case submission and discharge the defendant; while the prosecution’s legal team countered, urging the court to dismiss the submission and instruct Nwachukwu to enter a defense.
Justice Njideka K. Nwosu-Iheme has now set Tuesday, October 17, 2023, as the date for her ruling on the no case submission, marking a critical juncture in this high-profile case that has garnered significant public attention.
