Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has spoken on the outcome of her visit to the home of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu.
Tallen said she convinced the kids who had been sternly warned by their father, Peter, not to speak to anyone to say what they know about their mother’s death.
Part of what the kids told the minister was that father is secretly married to another woman.
She spoke on Wednesday while she featured as a guest on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria’s breakfast show.
The minister also confirmed from the kids that their late mother suffered years of beating from their father even as he took all of the money she made.
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.
She 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”, she also revealed.
“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”, Talen went further to say.
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