Favour Madu, the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu’s sister, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Monday, June 20, that Osinachi suffered an ulcer after her husband starved her for a long time.
Madu said Nwachukwu treated her sister like an animal and starved her despite being the house’s provider while appearing as a second witness for the prosecution in the alleged culpable homicide case brought against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office.
“My sister developed ulcer as a result of starvation because Nwachukwu never provided for his family. She was the provider for the family. My sister owns the house they lived in.
He drove her out of the house with their last baby under the rain and it was her first son that got a wrapper to cover the baby.”
The distraught sister told the court that the family referred to Nwachukwu as “Manager” because he had control of everything including her money, and the fear she had for him, made her not to relate well with her family.
“Her husband never treated her well. He treated her like an animal, beat her anyhow, never made her happy and never allowed her to associate with her family. There was a time she went for ministration and when she asked for stage fee, she was told that N2million had been paid into her husband’s account.
He was in charge of booking events and collecting money, and he merely directed her to go preach without giving her any pocket money. My father wanted to come to Abuja for treatment when he was sick, but the defendant refused, and he died as a result.
The defendant slapped her while traveling to our father’s funeral because she complained about how harsh he was driving.
During cross-examination, the defense lawyer, I A Aliyu, inquired as to how Madu learned of the events while in Enugu, but the latter responded that she learned of them through a phone chat with her sister.
Aliyu also asked Madu if the family intended to benefit financially from her late sister’s estate, and she said yes.
When questioned if she asked the physicians what caused her sister’s death in the hospital, she said that the defendant blocked the deceased’s twin sister and brother from doing so.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, the judge, released the witness and continued the case today, June 22.