Homicide: Court orders Osinach’s husband to remain in Prison, insists on accelerated hearing 

By Florence Kalu

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja  High Court sitting in Wuse  has ordered the remand of Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late ‘Ekwueme’ gospel singer, Osinachi in Kuje prison till the next hearing of his case.

Justice Ngozi Nwosu-Iheme pronounced that Nwachukwu will remain in custody until the conclusion of his trial.

She gave the order despite Nwachukwu who is standing trial on 23-count charge against him had pleaded not guilty to them.

Nwosu-Iheme however granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned till June 16 at 12 noon for the commencement of trial over the death of Osinachi, which borders on an alleged domestic violence she suffered from Nwachukwu.

Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) levelled the 23- count charges bordering on domestic violence and homicide, among others on him.

The federal government claims that Nwachukwu 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 pronouncement as read by the judge stated this: “The business for today is for arraignment, accelerated hearing is hereby ordered. Defendant should be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

It will be recalled that the result of the autopsy on late gospel singer’s body has been released to the police.

The National Hospital, Abuja, which carried out the post-mortem, sent its findings to the police. The Force Headquarters, in turn, forwarded the document to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions office of the Attorney General of the Federation for legal advice.

Neighbours of the Nwachukwus had confirmed that the late gospel artiste went through hell in the hands of her husband.

One of the neighbours said she always hears Osinachi screaming and her husband addressing her with derogatory words. Even as another neighbour, who said Osinachi used to buy stockfish from her recalled the few times she saw and conversed with her, recounts how tensed and depressed the singer appeared.