Clara
Chime, the estranged wife of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State,
has advanced her quest for freedom from illegal house arrest by
petitioning the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Last
week, in a story published by SaharaReporters, she called on the human
rights agencies to come to her aid. Only yesterday, human rights
advocate Femi Falana, on her behalf, petitioned the Inspector General of
Police to set her free without delay.
In
her letter to the NHRC, Mrs. Chime describes an abusive relationship
which has led her into depression. While they have been married for five
years, she says the relationship has 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.”
Saying
she has been subjected “to the most horrific and intolerable of
conditions to cause my demise,” she 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
noted that three weeks ago, a lady friend who visited her was stopped
from seeing her and the result is now 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,” she wrote. “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.”
Source: Sahara Reporters
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