Public statement by Human Rights Commmission on Clara Chime case
The chairman, Governing Council,
National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, Chidi Odinkalu has
released a public statement on Enugu First Clama Chime's case.
Statement below..
I have
been inundated by inquiries about the on going processes of the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) in relation to a recent complaint initiated by Mrs.
Clara Chime. As the complainant in this case is
the spouse of a senior political office holder, this complaint has naturally
elicited somewhat fevered public interest.
In connection with this matter and
in the past 72 Hours, the Commission deployed a high level investigation team
to Enugu. Professor Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, led
the team. Upon returning from Enugu, the
Executive Secretary, reflecting the public interest in this case, exercised
judgement in authorizing and issuing on 8 November 2013 a public statement on
the visit to Enugu. The full text of this statement is below.
As a practice, cases and complaints
received by the Commission are processed in accordance with the National Human
Rights Commission Act, (as amended) and with the Standing Orders and Rules of
Procedure of the Commission.
Having carefully reviewed the work
so far undertaken by the staff of the Commission, I find no bases in them for the
claims or speculation, widely circulated in the media, that the Commission has
pronounced on the state of health, physical or mental, of the complainant or
indeed of any other party in this case.
The Commission takes seriously
its responsibility to fully respect the confidentiality of parties before it
and to reach its decisions only on the bases of law and evidence.
I should clarify that the team that
the Commission sent to Enugu did not include any medical personnel. It had
neither a mandate nor the expertise to pronounce on such matters and has
clearly not done so. This is evident on the face of the Statement by the
Executive Secretary.
Allegations also that the Commission
may have been compromised in the conduct of the case are both factually
inaccurate and manifestly unfounded.
While we remain grateful for
the growing interest from the public in the work of the National Human Rights
Commission of Nigeria and support for this work, I wish to please appeal to the
public to respect the rights and dignity of the parties to pending cases and
respect the integrity of the processes of the Commission, guaranteed by its
Governing Council.
TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT ON THE INTERIM REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF
ALLEGED INCARCERATION OF HER EXCELLENCY MRS CHIME
The National Human Rights
Commission received a complaint from the wife of the Governor of Enugu State
Her Excellency Mrs. Clara Chime, in which she alleged to have been incarcerated
and subjected to horrific and intolerable conditions that curtailed her
fundamental freedoms and threatened the enjoyment of her human rights.
The Commission wrote to the
Governor and demanded for access to the complainant in order to obtain more
details and to carry out a thorough investigation of the issues raised in the
complaint.
Yesterday, I led a team of
investigators to the Government House Enugu and we were granted unhindered
access to both Mrs. Chime and her apartment in the Government House.
The investigating team held a five
hour meeting with Governor Chime, Mrs. Clara Chime, Dr. Jide Chime (the
Governor’s sibling) Dr. Aham Agumoh (who has been treating Mrs. Chime) and Tony
Igwe, the complainant’s elder brother during which the complainant had an
opportunity to state her case and also respond to the issues raised by her
husband.
Dr. Uzegu A – a London based
consultant psychiatrist and forensic examiner who is the doctor the complainant
prefers, also joined the meeting through teleconference.
The team further held private
sessions with Her Excellency Mrs. Clara Chime in her apartment, her husband,
His Excellency Sullivan Chime, Mrs.
Patience Igwe (Complainant’s mother), and Edwin Igwe her brother. All the parties spoke freely and expressed
their positions clearly.
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 son is not denied after his
school and lesson hours.
Both parties have agreed that Mrs.
Clara has medical challenges but have disagreement over how to handle her
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 agreed that the
Commission assemble a team of independent medical experts to review her medical
condition and advise on further steps to be taken in respect of her treatment.
We want to thank His Excellency
Governor Chime, and Her Excellency, Mrs.
Clara Chime his wife and all the persons that we interacted with during
our visit for their cooperation with the Commissions team of investigators.
We also want to assure all the
parties and Nigerians that the Commission will continue with the investigation
of this matter and take appropriate decision that will be in the interest of
all the parties and the Commission will not hesitate to invoke its further
mandate to mediate between the parties with a view to reconciling them.
Finally we wish to reassure all
Nigerians that this Commission is determined to be the instrument that will
represent their dreams and aspirations.
We wish to make it very clear that in the realm of human rights
protection, there is no immunity against impunity.
Prof. Bem Angwe
Executive Secretary
8th November, 2013
