On Tuesday, two people who worked for the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu testified in court in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, that her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, had verbally and physically harassed her.
Adetunji Moses, a former personal assistant to Osinachi, claimed that on many instances, Mr. Nwachukwu would describe his wife as useless, lethargic, and indolent during rehearsals. Adetunji Moses’ testimony was led by the prosecution’s attorney, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu.
He claimed that from September 2018 to March 2021, he served as the defendant’s personal assistant and keyboardist.
Mr. Moses said that he quit the case because he was unable to handle the defendant’s frequent rage at him.
2018 saw us visiting Enugu. The folks who invited us told me that Mr. Nwachukwu had given clear instructions that no one should be permitted to visit mummy Osinachi.
Later, I discovered that he gave the orders because of the fact that her family lived in Enugu.
“On another occasion, we were scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe for ministry, but on the morning of the trip, Nwachukwu and his mother-in-law, who was in town, got into a fight, which caused us to miss our flight.
It was a major argument as Nwachukwu continued verbally attacking his wife on the drive home from the airport after we missed our trip despite his attempts to get us on another flight, which were unsuccessful.
He informed her that her relatives were present in order to obstruct our growth, to close the door on the ministry and God’s blessings, Mr. Moses added.
The defendant, according to the former PA, allegedly told him not to let the deceased’s twin sister share the stage with her during her sermon during an event in Lagos.
Mr. Moses claimed that while the defendant was in Uyo on business, a check was written in the deceased’s name, and he followed the deceased to the bank to deposit the money before paying the crew.
Because the defendant refused to adhere to the terms of their agreement, which required them to be paid a percentage from each ministration, he claimed that several of the crew members, including the bass guitarist, were irate and departed the group.
I.A. Aliyu, the defendant’s lead attorney, questioned Mr. Moses during cross-examination about whether the deceased always complained to him about ulcer pains, and he replied in the affirmative.
Mr. Aliyu questioned the proximity of Mr. Moses, the deceased’s personal assistant.
The witness responded that anytime they traveled for ministry outside of Abuja, they had close interactions.
Also questioned if he was upset with the defendant for not raising his pay, Mr. Moses responded in the negative to the counsel’s question.
Blessing Iyamabe, a hair stylist for Mr. Moses, 40, who was also a witness, claimed that when she went to the deceased’s house in 2013 to do the deceased’s hair, the defendant contacted his wife to ask for the key to her car, but Osinachi sent her son to give the defendant the key.
“The defendant became enraged, arrived at the location where we were creating the hair, and smacked his wife.
In 2018, I saw another instance of mistreatment. He came to my store and spanked the dead for entering the salon without first getting his permission, she claimed.
She claimed that once, out of dread of the defendant, she had to accompany the deceased to her daughter’s school to make her hair.
She claimed that in order to conceal from the defendant, she was forced to create the deceased daughter’s hair in a restroom at a mall.
Mr. Aliyu questioned the witness on cross-examination on whether, as she claimed in her statement to the police, she ever urged the deceased to break off contact with the defendant.
She retorted that the manner the defendant was treating her prompted her to offer the advice.
When questioned if she was aware of the circumstances behind Osinachi’s passing, Ms. Iyamabe said that she had been informed that throat cancer was to blame.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme postponed the case till Thursday so that the trial may continue after hearing the testimony.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Nwachukwu is in court facing 23 counts of domestic abuse and culpable homicide. He is charged with being the cause of the passing of the late gospel performer who was well-known for her song “Ekwueme.”
After Osinachi passed away on April 8, the police detained Mr. Nwachukwu.
(NAN)
