The absence of a Federal Capital Territory High Court judge on Thursday stalled the trial of Peter Nwachukwu, husband of the late gospel singer, Osinachi.

Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme had, on June 3, ordered that Mr Nwachukwu be remanded in Kuje prison custody, fixing Thursday and Friday for hearing after he pleaded not guilty to the alleged homicide charge filed against him by the attorney general of the federation.

He was remanded pending the hearing and determination of the

23-count charge bordering on domestic violence and homicide instituted against him.

The judge was absent from Thursday’s proceeding, and judicial officers said the court had fixed June 20 and 21 for hearing.

The police arrested Nwachukwu after his wife died on April 8, following widespread allegations by their children, family and colleagues that he battered her leading to her death.

According to the charge, the crime he allegedly committed contravenes Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Section 221 of the Penal Code and the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP) 2015.

“That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the April 8 at Aco Estate, opposite Police Station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Osinachi N,” said the charge. “This was caused by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your act.”

The police alleged that Mr Nwachukwu, on November 14, 2009, and April 2022, at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, emotionally, verbally and psychologically abused Mrs Nwachukwu (now deceased).

“This was caused by humiliating her and making utterances like ‘you are smelling,’ ‘you are mad,’ to her in the presence of her music crew members,” the police said of singer Osinachi’s husband.

The late gospel singer was popularly known for her song ‘Ekwueme’.

(NAN)