The Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen has visited the Force Headquarters with the children of late gospel artist Osinachi Nwachukwu to seek clarifications on the rumoured release of the suspected-killer husband, Peter Nwachukwu, from Police custody.
In a statement by the Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Olujimi Oyetomi, Tallen canvassed strongly for adequate punishment for the suspect to serve as deterrent to other men in the habit of beating women, assuring that she will pursue justice for the late singer and he family.
“We would pursue justice for the late singer and her family. The alleged killer must not go unpunished to serve as deterrence to other men who are in the habit of beating women”, the minister declared.
According to the statement, the Minister promised to enlist the support of the Governor of Abia state as well as the representatives of the constituency where the late Osinachi hails from, and the assistance of the governor of Enugu state and his wife to give psycho-social support which may be needed by the children of the deceased.
The statement added that the Minister also promised to get the Enugu state administration to help provide a safe home to the family of the singer since their house in Abuja was being recovered by the Landlord.
“The four children of the deceased singer are on second term holiday from their school in Abuja and may be relocating to Enugu to join their grandmother until the present travail is sorted.
“I strongly rebuke those who were in the know of the suffering of the late Osinachi without coming out with what they know. Although we are crying over spilled milk, we will pursue this matter to ensure that justice is done to that late singer’s family and to ensure deterrence to others, so that nothing like this will ever happen,” she said.
The statement noted that during their visit, the Minister directed her aides to put a call through to the Minister of Justice/Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who was later learnt to be out of the country, performing the lesser Hajj.
She further called the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to thank the IGP “for his efforts on the Osinachi matter, and second, to know how far the Police has gone in investigating the alleged murder as well as arranging that the children are protected from possible threats.”
Responding, IGP Usman Alkali, directed that the alleged killer-husband of Osinachi, Mr. Peter Nwachukwu, be brought in, to assure the minister that he was still in custody.
“Police will investigate this matter with all alacrity and responsibility. In all cases such as this, expert opinions on cause of death are sought. We have enlisted National Hospital, Abuja and as soon as the outcome is received, we will charge the suspect to Court. It will be swift as much as possible. We just want to assure the public that the suspect is in our custody,” he said.
Peter Nwachukwu is presently with the homicide section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) having been moved at the directive of the IGP to FCID.
The visiting family includes the twin sister of the late Osinachi, Eze Grace Amarachi, the brother, the late singer’s children (Four boys and a girl) as well as two other females which include Deborah Rukop who was simply described as a close friend to the family.
