The Federal Government vowed on Monday that gospel artist Osinachi Nwachukwu, who allegedly died as a result of unreported serial domestic violence meted out to her by her husband, will get justice even in death.
Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen said in a statement that she personally signed domestic violence as a crime under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), adding that Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel artiste, will be prosecuted.
The 42-year-old artist died on Friday after spending days at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja, after another round of domestic violence.
According to Tallen, ‘we cannot continue to keep losing our young women to mentally unstable young men all in the name of marriage.’
Stating that ‘life first before anything,’ the minister asked ‘our religious and traditional institutions, as well as the immediate families, must join us in this fight to rid our society of such acts before they become fatal.’
Her statement reads thus: “As with every news of domestic violence which spreads like wildfire, I was woken up to the news of the untimely death of one of Nigeria’s finest female gospel artists Osinachi Nwachukwu who was said to have died as a result of cancer on 8th April 2022. This could have passed as one of those news, until new facts started emerging that she died as a result of domestic violence.
‘Then you begin to wonder and ask how such a talented and self accomplished individual who loved God has been a victim?
‘It is now truly obvious that violence knows no class or creed. It could have been that she cried out to her Church or Pastor or friends or family, but all she got was “it is well” and now that the inevitable has happened, they are speaking out. It is NOT WELL if we carry on with the traditional ways of sweeping bad behaviour under the carpet.
‘In Nigeria today, Domestic Violence is a crime under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015). The Federal Government of Nigeria and the states have declared zero tolerance for Gender-Based Violence. And so, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs under my watch will prosecute this matter to get justice for Osinachi.
‘It is obvious that her children also need psycho-social support to heal from this trauma if it is true that their Father will go the whole length of tying her up and asking the children to flog her with a cane. This is unbelievable and MUST be condemned in all its ramifications.
‘The Ministry working with relevant authorities will set in motion the mechanism to rehabilitate these children so that they do not grow up damaged and assume that such acts are normal thereby poisoning our society.
‘I know that more women are going through such traumatic experiences, please give them a listening ear, provide wise counsel and save them from untimely death. I am not advocating for divorce for those, who will misunderstand me! All I am asking is that we stand up to the truth where necessary and promptly so as to save a life when you have an opportunity to do so. We cannot continue to keep losing our young women to mentally unstable young men all in the name of marriage. Life first before anything.
‘Our Religious and Traditional institutions, as well as the immediate families must join us in this fight to rid our society of such acts before they become fatal. May the soul of Osinachi and all those who have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence rest in peace.
‘Please if you see something, speak out so that together we can save lives.’
In a related development, Tallen visited the Arco Estate, Abuja, home of the late singer, located along the airport road, Lugbe.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, in a statement said she was on a condolence visit and fact-finding mission to know the circumstances surrounding the death of the talented gospel artist.
Speaking after the visit, the minister said she was compelled to demand on behalf of Nigerian women and mothers justice as well as full protection for the children left behind by the late singer.
Tallen who asked for a private session with the children of the deceased disclosed that her findings compelled her to make the demands for justice for their late mother and protection for the children.
Presently, the children of the deceased were being cared for by a Mr Sunday Achino, a family friend from Dunamis Church, the congregation where the late singer worshipped.
The minister was informed that the late singer’s husband was said to be in protective custody by the Police.
‘There is no smoke without fire!,’ she declared. ‘I have confidence in the police and the judicial system to ensure justice for the late singer, and I also demand that the children should be offered special protection; those are what the Nigerian women, whom I stand to represent are demanding of this situation.’
The minister was accompanied on the condolence visit by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Olufunso Adebiyi, members of civil society organisations, and directors from the ministry, among others.
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