“High Court Rejects No-Case Submission in Osinachi Nwachukwu Case: Husband to Defend Against 23-Count Charge”

Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, presiding over the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2, has rejected the no-case submission made by Peter Nwachukwu, the spouse of the late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu.

In her ruling, Justice Nwosu-Iheme determined that the prosecution had successfully presented a case against the defendant. The Federal Government had lodged a 23-count charge against Nwachukwu in connection with Osinachi’s demise.

After entering a plea of not guilty, the judge ordered that the defendant be held in custody at the Kuje correctional facility pending further proceedings. The prosecution had summoned 17 witnesses to testify during the trial, which began on June 20, 2022, and concluded on March 10, 2023.

Osinachi Nwachukwu, who passed away on April 8, 2022, was initially believed to have succumbed to throat cancer. However, family and friends alleged that her death was linked to mistreatment by her husband, who was subsequently apprehended.

Subsequently, the National Hospital in Abuja issued an autopsy report, stating that there were no signs of violence on the deceased. The report identified the cause of Osinachi’s death as follows: “generalized organ pallor; bilateral leg swelling; fluid in the sac containing the heart; tumor deposits in and on the heart, lungs, kidneys; massively enlarged heart and fluid around the lungs, which restricts breathing.”

After this report, Mr. Nwachukwu’s counsel, I.A. Aliyu, submitted a no-case motion, asserting that Nwachukwu had no need to respond to the charges. Aliyu argued that the evidence provided by medical professionals cleared Nwachukwu of the accusations of culpable homicide and domestic violence. He contended that the autopsy report confirmed Osinachi’s death was due to “outgrowth tumors, resulting in cardiac tamponade as the primary cause of death and abnormal tissue growth (cancer) as the secondary cause of death.”

Nevertheless, the court dismissed the no-case submission and ordered the defendant to present his defense.

CREDIT: Channel Tv news