Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting at Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, Peter Nwachukwu, to enter his defence in the charges brought against him by the Federal Government over the death of the late singer.
Through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), the government dragged Nwachukwu before the court on a 23-count charge bordering on domestic violence and culpable homicide.
The defendant, through his counsel, I. A Aliyu, had, on September 27, made a no-case submission before the prosecution closed its case and urged the court to exonerate him from the charges he was charged with.
In the course of proving its case against Nwachukwu, the prosecution had called 17 witnesses, including the late gospel artist’s sister, children, doctors, and police personnel from the Lugbe division, Abuja, among others.
While arguing his client’s no-case submission, Aliyu had urged the court to discount the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, arguing that the evidence of the medical doctor brought by the prosecution completely exonerated Nwachukwu of culpable homicide.
While saying that the deceased’s children were tutored to testify against their father before the court, the defence counsel added that the defendant’s in-laws tried hard before the court to frame him up.
Ruling on the no-case submission today, Justice Nwosu-Iheme dismissed the defence’s submission and held that Nwachukwu has a case to answer in the trial.
The judge further held that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendant for him to enter his defence.
According to the judge, “the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the defendant.”
She then adjourned the case to November 22-23 for Nwachukwu to open his defence.
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