Minister of women affairs Pauline Tallen on Wednesday revealed her encounter with the children of the late gospel artiste Osinachi Nwachukwu who was allegedly abused by her husband Peter Nwachukwu.
Tallen said she visited the children – three boys and a girl – on Tuesday at their Abuja residence.
“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,” she said on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria show.
“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’.”
Tallen said the boy began talking when she introduced herself and told him that President Muhammadu Buhari and the nation were concerned about them.
“Then he opened up… And said that their dad used to beat their mom and their mom was always sad,” she said. “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.”
Tallen added that the second and third sons confirmed the story of the first, vowing that justice would be served on the matter.
