Remembering gospel music star Osinachi one year after

A year after losing Osinachi, Nigerians seem to have moved on.

On April 8, 2022, popular Nigerian gospel artiste Osinachi Nwachukwu passed away at a hospital in Abuja.

Osinachi, as he was fondly called, rose to fame for his vocal rendition of ‘Ekueme’, a 2016 song by Prospa Ochimana.

His death was greeted with the usual shout, but with more intensity, as the victim was considered a person of high rank.

Sinach, Dunsin Oyekan, Chioma Jesus, Mercy Chinwo, Lara George and many others were among those who expressed strong views on the questionable death of the beloved singer.

The first indication that Osinachi might have been a victim of domestic abuse was when her colleague, Frank Edwards, alleged that the late singer’s husband, Peter Nwachukwu, regularly raped her before her death.

Mr Edwards made the remarks in an Instagram Live video. According to him, on several occasions, the late Osinachi’s husband had the habit publicly insulting his wifeand he abused her on several occasions.

Narrating an encounter he had with the singer, he said: “Once in a studio, this man slapped him because he wanted to record the song in Igbo against his will. He doesn’t do anything on his own.’

“She would say, please, beg my husband. It was up to him. I didn’t know what intensity he was experiencing; I didn’t know how anyone could be jealous of his wife or profess love.”

Mr Edwards also alleged that the late singer’s husband was being controlled and would take the money he made from the events.

Denial, lawsuit

Following his untimely death, the Attorney General of the Federation laid 23 charges against Mr. Nwachukwu.

He was charged with culpable homicide under Sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Section 221 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by death.

Mr. Nwachukwu, however, said his wife died of lung cancer. Contrary to public opinion, he also claimed that he never hit his dead wife.

The father of four made this statement as he was being hauled to court at an Abuja High Court.

He said: “Let the whole world say, I have suffered a lot. I have been abandoned. What killed my wife was lung cancer; I didn’t hit my wife. Lung cancer killed my wife, Osinachi Nwachukwu, so I am suffering for what I do not know”!

A year after his tragic death, Mr. Nwachukwu’s trial is still pending before Justice Njideka Nwosu of the Federal Capital Territory Court, Wuse, Abuja. At the same time, Mr. Nwachukwu remains incarcerated in Kuje prison.

In October 2022, two employees of the late gospel singer Adetunji Moses, his former personal assistant and Blessing Iyamabe, told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that her husband, Peter Nwachukwu, verbally and physically abused her.

A neighbor of the late gospel singer Osinachi also told the Court that the singer, on several occasions, begged her not to report her husband’s abuse.

The last hearing was in January when more assistants of the late singer who worked closely with Osinachi and an IPO Police Investigator testified in court.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 2, where Nwachukwu is expected to open his defence.

Silence vs silence

A year after his death, the world, especially his ministry colleagues, seems to have moved on.

In the days and weeks following her death, the religious and marital climate in Nigeria was filled with heated revelations about domestic violence.

For the first time, it seemed that preachers began advocating divorce or separation in cases of domestic abuse, against the “indoctrinated” “Wrong” mantra that guides Christian marriages.

Gospel singer Dunsin Oyekan advised Christians to speak up when they are being abused.

Reacting to the late Osinachi’s death, Mr. Oyekan wrote: “We all need to learn not to let what we are going through take us away from people who can help. Friends, please talk! It’s okay.”

Zona Strings made a reel of himself painting the singer using a belt, symbolizing domestic violence.

His funeral was emotionally charged with tributes from his industry colleagues.

However, on the anniversary of his death, the tributes dried up. Except for a few fans on social media, Osinachi has been largely forgotten, except for occasional court hearings.

The silence was such that one of his famous colleagues organized a concert on the weekend of the anniversary of his death without a tribute.

Osinachi

Osinachi was the twin sister of famous singer Amarachi Eze. He was the singer of Dunamis International Gospel Center.

He also featured in popular gospel songs like “Nara Ekele” by Pastor Paul Enenche (Dunamis, Abuja) and “You no dey use me play” by Emma.

Osinachi, who is survived by her husband and four children, released her latest song, ‘Ikem (God of Power)’ in November 2021.

Twin Amarachi Eze revealed in a thank you post on his official Facebook page that Paul Paul and Becky Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Center gave his four children a scholarship.

Mrs. Eze also said that the clergy would support their welfare up to the university level.