Late Osinachi’s Husband Hostile, Bars Our Mum Visiting Her – Twin Sister Alleges

• I want justice – mother cries out

BY EDMOND ODOK – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja sitting on the alleged culpable homicide case against Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer, Osinanchi, on Tuesday learnt that he is a very hostile man who refused the mother to visit her daughter when she was quite ill.

This disclosure came from Amarachi Ezeh, the twin sister of late Osinachi, who testified for the prosecution before the Court on Tuesday, saying; “Pastor Becky Enenche of Dunamis Church, Abuja, intervened before Nwachukwu allowed our mother, Caroline Madu to visit.”

Continuing her testimony, Amarachi, 42, said; “He sent our mother out of his house after two weeks. A woman from Delta took our mother in and allowed her to stay in her house for one month. That was the last time our mother visited Osinachi.”

Ezeh further alleged that Nwachukwu beat her sister when she was pregnant and narrated a particular incident where someone gave Osinachi N40,000 and on getting home, the defendant opened her purse, and took the money, calling her a thief, a prostitute, and still beat her up.

The witness in her testimony corroborated most of the allegations earlier given by her mother and sister, Favour on Monday that the late singer never helped their family because the defendant prevented her from doing so.

During cross-examination, the defendant’s counsel, I.A.Aliyu asked the witness if she ever made any attempt to find out her sister’s medical condition from the doctors to which she said that such was not possible because Nwachukwu deliberately stopped the family from doing so.

However, the court’s proceedings were temporarily on hold as the witness shed tears while giving her testimony and at a point, the defendant, surprisingly, also broke down in tears.

Approaching the court, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, had earlier in the proceeding made three oral applications. The first one was brought pursuant to the provision of sections 156 and 158 of the Child Rights Act.

The application prayed the court to rule that persons, other than the parties in the matter, the court officials, correctional service staff, and the witness’ guardians, should not be allowed in court when the witnesses would give their testimonies.

The second application was premised on Section 160 of the Child Rights Act and Section 209 of the Evidence Act. The application prayed the court to allow the other two witnesses, the deceased’s children who are minors, to give unsworn evidence.

The final application brought pursuant to Sections 1, 2 (1), and 157 of the Child Rights Act urged the court to allow the witnesses to be brought to the court blindfolded and their faces to be shielded.

The judge, Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme asked the defendant’s counsel, Aliyu if he had any objection to the applications, and giving a no-objection response, the court granted the three applications.

According to the trial Judge’s ruling, the applications were in the best interest of a child, whose interest must be considered paramount during a proceeding by shielding the child while giving testimony.