HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER, FEMI FALANA INSISTS ON MANDATE FROM MRS CLARA CHIME

Falana (SAN) seeks release from house detention of Mrs Clara Chime.

“My attention has been drawn to the misleading claim credited to the Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime that his wife did not brief me to secure her release from illegal custody at the Government House, Enugu.

“Contrary to such diversionary statement I wish to state that I do not need the instructions of citizens who are illegally detained to demand for their release. Without any instructions I am duty bound to file cases in court to secure the enforcement of the fundamental rights of detainees to personal liberty. For the avoidance of doubt, the doctrine of locus standi in the area of human rights has been abolished by the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 which came into force on December 1, 2009..

“With respect to Mrs Clara Chime I wish to say, without any fear of contradiction, that I have her instructions in writing to challenge her illegal detention at the Government House, Enugu. Through the assistance of some of the security personnel in the Government House she has since spoken to me on phone to confirm her instructions. Indeed, Mrs Chime’s mother and her personal physician have also been in touch with me urging me to take all appropriate measures to secure her freedom from Governor Chime’s illegal confinement.

“From his nocturnal press conference Governor Chime confirmed the allegation that he has held his wife in illegal custody. He attempted to justify the illegality by alleging that his wife has “a medical challenge”. When Governor Chime was recently medically challenged he was not subjected to solitary confinement in the Government House but flown abroad for adequate medical treatment. But Mr Chime has conspired with his private physicians to sentence his wife to unwarranted mental torture and psychological trauma in a room in the Government House for the past four months. If Mr Chime’s claim is correct that the wife is non compos mentis when was the Enugu Government House converted to a psychiatric hospital?

But Mr Chime has conspired with his private physicians to sentence his wife to unwarranted mental torture and psychological trauma in a room in the Government House for the past four months.—Falana

“Having confirmed the allegation that he has wilfully infringed the fundamental rights of his wife to personal liberty, dignity of the person and freedom of movement Governor Chime should release his wife from illegal custody be warned not to divert attention from the brutal abuse of the rights of his wife. if he and his doctors are convinced that she is medically challenged they should send her to a hospital for quick recovery!

“Meanwhile, I wish to thank the Director-General of the State Security Service who has directed the security service personnel attached to the Government House to desist from teaming up with the Governor to hold his wife hostage.

Femi Falana SAN.