Chime’s wife is not well, says human rights commission

THE National Human Rights Commission has confirmed that the wife of the Enugu State governor, Clara Chime, is having medical challenges which had warranted her being confined to her apartment.

The commission had, on Thursday, visited Enugu State to see the governor, Sullivan Chime and his wife, having received a complaint from the latter of alleged incarceration and subjection to conditions that threatened her personal freedom and human rights.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Bem Angwe, who led four other members of the investigative team, told journalists in Abuja, on Friday, that they had a four-hour meeting with the governor and his wife, two members of their extended family and the complainant’s physicians.

“We have confirmed that for the past two weeks, Mrs Chime had been confined to her apartment on for the purposes of medical maintenance and security. But she confirmed being in possession of the keys to her apartment, which the team also inspected. We further confirmed that access to her by her son is not denied.

“Both parties have agreed that Mrs Chime had a medical condition. The complainant told the commission that she has lost confidence in the physician presently handling her condition and no longer wants him to treat her. She further requested to have medical opinion of other medical doctors acceptable to her.

“Both parties have also agreed that the commission assemble a team of independent medical experts to review her medical condition and offer advice on further steps to be taken in respect of her treatment.

Saturday Tribune recalls that the governor’s wife, through Femi Falana, had petitioned the commission over the alleged house arrest. He had also petitioned the Inspector General of Police on her behalf, asking that she be set free without delay.

In the said petition, she called on human rights agencies to come to her aid.  

In her letter to the NHRC, Mrs Chime described an abusive relationship which had led her into depression.

Culled from the tribune