A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Wuse, on Friday remanded Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi, in the Kuje Correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of the homicide related suit filed against him by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme made the remand order after his arraignment before the trial court.
Although the defendant, Peter Nwachukwu entered a plea of not guilty to the 23- count charges bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others, he was ordered to be remanded at the correctional facility while trial was adjourned to June 16 from 12pm and June 17 by 9am.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme declared, “the business for today is for arraignment, accelerated hearing is hereby ordered” declared Justice Nwosu-Iheme.
“Defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of this suit,” she ruled.
Nwachukwu’s wife died on April 8 and many of her colleagues had accused her husband of subjecting the deceased to domestic violence, leading to her death.
Afterwards, the Nigeria Police arrested him and he has been in detention since.
Federal Government had in the charge that was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, alleged that the late Osinachi was forcefully ejected from her matrimonial home by her husband, contrary to the Violence Against Persons, VAP (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
Government claims that he contravened Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, section 221 of the Penal Code and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015.
The charge marked CR/199/2022, was entered at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by the Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
It alleged that the defendant, Nwachukwu, had at a time, forcefully pushed his late wife out of a moving vehicle.
The defendant was specifically charged for alleged committing culpable homicide under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, an offence contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code and punishable with death.
Some of the counts (like culpable homicide) recommends death penalty, 1-year jail term or fine (VAPP Act), among others.
Part of the charges read: “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.”
“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.”