A Federal Capital Territory high court has adjourned the trial of Peter Nwachukwu, husband to the late Gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to June 21 for the continuation of trial.
Justice Njideka Iheme adjourned the case after late Osinachi’s 61-year-old mother Caroline Madu alongside her sister Favour Madu gave their testimonies on how Peter threatened to kill the diseased.
Family members of late Osinachi Nwachukwu turned up in court on Monday as the trial of the husband of late gospel singer, Peter Nwachukwu commenced.
Representation issues for the defendant emerged when the trial commenced but was sorted after the matter was stood down for a few hours.
61 years Caroline Madu, Mother of the diseased, who resides in Enugu when called up to the stand, giving her evidence in chief stated that until the death of her daughter on April 8, 2022, the last time she saw her daughter was in December 2021.
Caroline told the court that Peter and late Osinachi’s relationship was not cordial as he always subjected her to domestic violence.
She also alleged that Peter had on different occasions threatened to kill Osinachi, which prompted her to ask that she be brought home to Enugu away from all the issues.
The late Osinachi and her children were later brought back to Enugu by her sister Favour Madu, where they spent 1 year and three months, before going back to her husband, against the warnings of her mother.
She stated that after Osinachi returned back to her husband’s house, Peter continued to maltreat her but she did not have the courage to say something.
Caroline also told the court that there were instances when Osinachi was thrown out of the house while she was pregnant due to a little misunderstanding, without food and water.
She stated that anytime she asked her daughter for money or help, non would be rendered as her daughter never had access to anything since her husband was in charge of everything she owned.
Caroline told the court that Peter made sure non of her family members visited their home even when late Osinachi puts to bed, which is customary in Igbo land.
She stated that on the day Osinachi died her song was everywhere, but it took till 7 pm in the evening for Peter to confirm to her, hours after the whole incident, noting that the only sickness she knew her late daughter had was an ulcer.
The second witness Favour Madu’s sister to the diseased, who affirmed most of what Caroline said told the court that she spoke mostly with her sister on the phone as she was never allowed to associate with family.
Favour stated that the relationship between Osinachi and her husband was very toxic as Osinachi would always call for food to eat having been starved by her husband on different occasions.
She mentioned that her late sister confided in her that some of the emoluments due to her in the course of her profession were mostly diverted by her husband without her knowledge.
She also said that it was Peter’s actions that lead to the death of their father as he refused to allow her be brought to Abuja for medicals.
Favour told the court that it was when they were invited by the police that they discovered several marks on the body of the kids, who pointed accusing fingers at Peter when they were asked about the marks.
When the defense counsel Isa Aliyu asked if they knew the outcome of the autopsy carried out on the diseased, they both said no, as the only health condition they were aware the diseased had was Ulcer.
After listening to the witnesses and counsel in the matter, Justice Njideka Iheme adjourned to June 21 for the continuation of the trial.
Peter Nwachukwu is standing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on domestic violence, and alleged homicide, among others, instituted against him by the Attorney General of the Federation.
The trial judge had ordered that the suspect be remanded at the kuje Correctional Facility pending the determination of the suit.
Osinachi died on April 8 raising suspicions from her colleagues that she was subjected to domestic violence by her husband which eventually lead to her death.
The Federal Government claims that Peter Nwachukwu’s actions 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.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
