NHRC writes Gov Chime, demands access to wife

ABUJA – Sequel to a petition that was sent to
it by wife of Governor Sullivan Chime of
Enugu State, Clara, alleging that she had
been illegally confined to a house arrest by
her husband, the National Human Rights
Commission, NHRC, yesterday, wrote a letter
to the Governor, requesting to have an
audience with his wife.
According to the Director of Information and
Communication at the Commission, Mr
Muhammed Nasir Ladan, the right body, has
commenced investigation into the petition,
and would want to hear from all the
concerned parties.
He said: “The NHRC has commenced
investigation into the complaint received
from Mrs Clara Chime and has requested
Governor Chime to grant the Commission
access to the complainant."
It will be recalled that the Enugu State First
Lady, advanced her quest for freedom from
alleged illegal house arrest, by petitioning
the Commission, begging it to come to her
aid.
Already, Lagos based human rights lawyer
and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr
Femi Falana, has equally petitioned the
Inspector General of Police, asking for the
intensification of efforts towards securing
the release of the Governor's wife.
In her letter to the NHRC, Mrs. Chime,
described her relationship with her husband
as "abusive", saying it had led her into
depression.
Whereas they have been married for five
years, Clara said their relationship had
broken down irretrievably in the past couple
of years.
"We do not have a relationship anymore and
the situation inevitably led to my nervous
breakdown. I have been diagnosed with
severe depression and at some point was
quite suicidal."
Alleging that she was subjected "to the most
horrific and intolerable of conditions to
cause my demise," Clara, enumerated the
major issues to include: lack of sexual
relationship with her husband for four years;
being deprived of responsibilities as a wife;
being prevented from bonding with her
four-year-old son; and being barred me
from receiving visitors, whether family or
friends.
She revealed that three weeks ago, a lady
friend who visited her was stopped from
seeing her; saying had been confined to a
complete incarceration from the outside
world.
"In effect, I am locked up in my bedroom,
without access to anybody," she pleaded.
According to the letter, "I am only allowed
food but no access to fresh air; I have been
locked up because I demanded to leave, even
without my son. Governor Chime recently
revoked my land allocation; the governor is
doing everything possible to break my will."
She told the commission that her desire is
simply to be allowed to leave.
"If I have committed any crime, I request
that due process should be followed. I was
also recently attacked by my husband before
the visitor mentioned above who is a living
witness and will be prepared to testify."
She also accused Governor Chime of paying a
doctor to inject her with all sorts of drugs,
and that she is sometimes restrained and
forced to take the drugs.
"I would also wish the Nigerian Medical
Council be informed of the activity of this
doctor who is only interested in my
husband's wishes and does not care about
my suffering. Medical confidentiality is not
part of this doctor's tool," she wrote.
Stressing that she has no intention of taking
her own life, she warned that should she die,
it must be clear that it must have been
brought about her husband.
"The possibility of the doctor injecting me
with a lethal substance must never be
underestimated. I have a friend who is a
good friend of the family and would
collaborate a lot in the event of any mishap
to me and wish not to mention the name but
he would contact you ultimately” she added.