Osinachi’s husband is married to another woman –Minister

 

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, says Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu, is married to another woman.

 

She spoke on Wednesday while she featured as a guest on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria’s breakfast show.

 

According to the minister, Peter, who is now in police custody, physically assaulted his late wife and her four children.

 

Tallen noted that the children of the deceased opened up to her when she visited the Abuja residence of the late singer this week.

 

She said the children told her that their late 42-year-old mother had no bank account of her own as all her proceeds were usurped by their father.

 

The minister said, “Honourable member, the deputy chief whip, happens to come from the late Osinachi’s village and she was out of town (and when she came back), she was in my office to thank me for the visit and she demanded that I should ask one of my aides to take her.

 

 “I asked my CSO (chief security officer) to take her and when they got to the house, with the encouragement I gave the children, they are encouraged to speak out.

 

“So, more revelations are coming out and (one of) the sons went in and brought out an album; he’s (Peter) been married to another woman. You can imagine collecting money from her (Osinachi) and treating this woman as a beast of burden.”

The minister said, “It is so traumatizing, so heartbreaking, the death of Osinachi.

 

“When I came into the compound, I saw the children, four beautiful children; three boys, one girl. He (Peter) had told the children that they should not speak about the things that have been happening in the house.

 

“I came in with all the directors in the ministry. When I was asking questions, I saw that the children were not forthcoming. I excused everyone and said I wanted to have a one-on-one with the children.

 

“I first spoke with the first son. I asked him, ‘Do you love your mother?’ He said, ‘Yes’. ‘Has your mummy taught you to tell lies?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I asked him if she is still alive and he said she is dead. ‘Do you know that she is now your angel and she is now watching you?’ He said, ‘Yes’. ‘So, it will be very sad if you tell lies’.

 

 “I introduced myself and I told him the President is concerned, every Nigerian is concerned, we all join them to mourn Osinachi’s death but what we want from him is the truth.

 

“Then he opened up… And said that their dad used to beat their mom and their mom was always sad. He would beat her and flog her. He said their father would gather them in the room and be beating them and if the mom comes into the room to stop him, he would turn back on her and beat her up. And that has always been the issue.

 

“They said it was their mom that runs around on her gospel music, comes back with her money, in fact, if the money is paid through (a) bank account, it was paid into his account. She has no account of her own, any money she has, he collects it and gives her just peanut for feeding and when she cooks, he started shouting and beating her. And their mom was living in fear and was always sad.

 

“It was such a horrible story from a young boy that is said to be just 12. I asked him what class he is and he said Class Five. At the age of 12? I said, ‘Why?’ And he said he can’t even read. So, mentally, this child is already destroyed.

 

“I was battling with tears and when he finished, I called on the second son.”

 

Tallen further said “the second son repeated the same horrible situation” as well as the third son.

 

The minister vowed that justice would be served on the matter as it would be followed to a logical conclusion.