Husband Of late popular gospel singer, Osinachi, Mr. Peter Nwachukwu, is to remain in prison custody until the 16th of June when his trial will commence fully for the death of his wife.
On Friday, Justice N.K. Nwosu-Iheme of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Wuse, Abuja, ordered Nwachukwu be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Court order is pending the hearing and determination of the homicide-related suit instituted against him by the Attorney General of the Federation.
Before the order, Nwachukwu had pleaded not guilty to 23 counts bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others.
“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 said.
Osinachi died on April 8 and accusing fingers were pointed in the direction of the husband by family and friends.
On the basis of alleged domestic violence, the Police arrested him and kept him in detention, until his arraignment on Friday.
The government claimed 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 2015.
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 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.”