Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late gospel singer, Oshinachi who passed away in April after being allegedly assaulted by her spouse, has received 23-count charges filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Nwachukwu was charged under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code which is punishable with death.
The case with charge number, CR/199/2022, was filed at the High Court of Abuja on May 20, 2022, by the Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.
The defendant was accused of forcefully expelling the deceased from the family home, contrary to VAP Act, and attempting culpable homicide by pushing the deceased out of a moving vehicle.
The defendant is alleged to have deprived the deceased of her personal right to freedom by restraining her movement and locking her up in the house. He was also accused of psychological, verbal, and emotional abuse in violation of section 14(1) of VAP Act, 2015. And to have forcefully isolated her away from her relatives, preventing her mother and siblings from visiting her matrimonial home, among other offences.
It is uncertain what the cause of her death was, but an autopsy had been carried out by the FCT Police Command and the result was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution.
The police did not disclose details about the autopsy, but many of her relatives and close friends have alleged that the gospel singer was a victim of all manner of abuses from her husband for years in their marriage.
Mr. Usman Allali Baba, Inspector General of Police, and Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen have assured her family members that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted in accordance with the law.