As the controversy over the health condition of Mrs. Clara Chime, the wife of the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime continues, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday, made a U-turn, saying it never pronounced on her health condition.
The commission was reacting to media reports which suggested that the commission had established that the governor’s wife suffered from health challenges.
“This implies that the commission is biased and has already taken a decision on her complaint which is far from the truth,” it stated.
The refutal followed the threat from the First Lady that she would not grant further audience to the commission . She issued the threat in a letter to the commission. But the commission said it was yet to reach a determination on the petition received from Mrs Chime.
“The complaint is currently being investigated and will be subjected to the commission’s Rules of Procedure. The commission is a credible national institution that will never be biased or compromised in case management or any matter before the commission,”it stated.
Muhammad Nasir Ladan, Director of Public Affairs and Communications in a statement yesterday noted:
“ The attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been drawn to media reports which suggested that the commission had established that the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs Clara Chime, suffers from health challenges.
It became necessary for the commission to address the press on Friday, November 8, 2013 in respect of the complaint received from Mrs Chime, because it had attracted considerable media attention and generated a lot of public interest.
The purpose of the briefing was to inform Nigerians that the commission’s team of investigators visited Enugu and held a meeting with the complainant and her husband and is taking further investigative steps in respect of the matter.
The commission wishes to place it on record that it has never claimed to have established that Mrs Chime has health challenges. It was clearly stated during the meeting with the press that the issue of Mrs Chime’s health status came up in the course of investigation and it was mutually agreed that the commission constitutes an independent medical team to evaluate the true state of her health.
The NHRC has no any form of medical competence to establish the health status of Mrs Chime or any other person. The investigation is still on-going.
In response to one of the questions asked at the press briefing, the Executive Secretary Professor Bem Angwe, clearly stated that, ‘when we interacted with Her Excellency, Mrs Chime, she spoke to us fluently and coherently.
She answered all the questions we raised in her presence as a person who is aware of the circumstances of her environment and the consequence of her action.’ For the avoidance of doubt, please find hereunder, the full text of the media briefing on the complaint received by the commission from Mrs Clara Chime.”
Meanwhile, the Enugu First Lady has threatened not to grant further audience to the commission. She stated this in a letter to the commission.
Part of the letter reads: “You have published medical information which is sensitive and not true. I hereby request you to retract same immediately. I regret that failure to do so will result in not granting you further audience.
“I am very disappointed to read what has been narrated by the Human Rights Commission. Apart from the fact that the information was largely false, it showed lack of sensitivity in publishing sensitive medical details. This has the effect of tarnishing and damaging my reputation.
“I made it clear to them that I had a nervous breakdown and found it inexplicable as to how hallucinations featured as part of my symptoms. It is important to make this clear so that the public should be made aware of this, and that the commission should recognise part of her ethos in protecting human dignity.
“It has been suggested in some quarters that the commission appears biased already because of the profile of the person whose reputation is at stake. I want to believe that the commission would approach my case with open mind and in particular, recognise me as a victim of crime. I hope that common sense would prevail and the commission would retract the damaging publication and stop stigmatising me,” Clara said.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Bem Angwe, who led other four members of the investigative team, said they had a four-hour meeting with Governor Sullivan Chime, his wife, two members of their extended family and physicians treating the complainant.
Angwe said: “We have confirmed that for the last two weeks, Mrs. Chime had been confined to her apartment on medical advice for purposes of medical maintenance and security. But she confirmed having possession and control of keys to her apartment, which the team also inspected. We further confirmed that access to her is not denied after school and lesson hours.
“Both parties have agreed that Mrs. Chime had a medical condition. The complainant told the commission that she had lost confidence in the physician presently handling her condition and no longer wanted him to treat her. She further requested to have medical opinion of other medical doctors acceptable to her.
“We want to assure all parties and Nigerians that the commission will continue with investigation of this matter and take appropriate decision that will be in the interest of all parties and the commission will not hesitate to invoke its further mandate between parties, with a view to reconciling them.”
Source: sunnewsonline
....................Meanwhile, according to unconfirmed report Governor Chime with the assistance of security operatives, sent his wife from the Enugu State Government House.Mrs. Chime’s personal effects were packed for her by the governor and his security detail, and she was forcibly taken out of the Government House yesterday afternoon.
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