Tag: Chime

It has become obvious that all is not well within the Enugu State Government House. At first, the story was just about an imminent break up in the marriage of the first family over some very private family matters.

But the last few days have seen the story growing into something more serious; something as serious as the Governor allegedly holding his wife Clara hostage against her will; something as grave as the First Lady suffering depression.

Already, the state, as well as the nation, is agog with tales of how two families, the Governor’s and his wife’s have been at loggerheads over the state of the union between their son, the Governor and their daughter, the First Lady, respectively.

According to sources, for months, the Igwe family has been spending sleepless nights following the sudden twist in the fortune of their daughter, Clara Chime nee Igwe.

Clara, according to reports and recent confirmations by her family members, including the Governor, is suffering from what may be acute depression.

Before now, Clara, who, married Chime about five years ago, was the family’s greatest source of joy, having brought fame and fortune their ways with his alliance with the Governor.

But when news started filtering into their ears that she may be battling some very serious medical challenges, the Igwes were thrown into confusion as they struggled to come to terms with the unfortunate development.

But if they thought they would have to worry about just the deteriorating health of their daughter, the family was mistaken as they were soon to find out that politics would play a key role in the unfolding drama.

As it appears now, not only has the Igwes been battling with a strange ailment that suddenly came upon their hitherto hale and hearty daughter, the First Lady’s relatives, especially her mother, The Nation gathered, had been up in arms against the Governor, who allegedly was bent on keeping the sickness of his wife a secret at all cost.

Many will recollect that Chime, who was single when he became governor in 2007, having divorced his first wife few years earlier while he was serving as the State’s Commissioner for Health, got married to Clara in 2008.

Sources close to the family claimed that trouble started for the First Lady immediately after the birth of her son about four years ago.

“Not long after the birth of her son about a year into her marriage, Clara suffered a bout of depression. Doctors felt these were occasioned by childbirth and treated her accordingly. After a while, she came out of it and continued with her life,” a source who sought anonymity, told The Nation.

It appears Clara had months of respite from her illness as her activities as First Lady after the period she allegedly got treated for post-natal depression suggested.

“If you go back and check her activities as First Lady, it will not be difficult for you to know the time she first came down with the ailment, the period she enjoyed sound health and the time she relapsed again.

“Her current situation, if I can recollect vividly, started shortly before the Governor left the country to undergo treatment for nose cancer abroad.

It was around the time the Governor’s cancer problem first became known to the family that her current travail started. Perhaps the pressure of seeing her husband battling something as serious as cancer caused her to relapse.

“You will recall that the Chimes came under a lot of criticism and political opposition at that time due to the uncertainties that trailed the Governor’s sudden disappearance from public glare.

“What I know is that by the time the Governor left the country for treatment, Clara too was being managed by medics for depression. Although she was with him in the United Kingdom while he was undergoing treatment for nose cancer, it was a trying period for her as she also had to go through regular treatment for her own medical problem,” Our source, a former woman leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State said.

The Nation learnt that the couple returned to the country on February 8, 2013 after spending 140 abroad. But while the Governor’s health continued to improve on a daily basis, the wife’s condition deteriorated at the same pace forcing her out of limelight and nothing was heard of her in the state or outside.

That was when the Igwes got a full understanding of the things to come as all efforts to get the Governor to allow Clara seek medical help either within or outside the country were allegedly rebuffed by the Governor.

A relative of the First Lady told our correspondent in Enugu on condition of anonymity.“At first we thought it was in the interest of our sister as he claimed to have arranged for the best doctors to attend to her at home. But when doctors started advising us to ensure she is flown abroad for adequate attention, we became worried.

Particularly, Clara’s mother has been fighting for her to be taken abroad for treatment. The family is even ready to bear the cost. But it has not been easy getting that to happen. Some people say it is because of politics but we don’t understand what politics has to do with our sister’s health,”

This was the situation when the bubble burst as Clara reportedly advanced her quest for freedom from what she termed illegal house arrest, by petitioning the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through Lagos lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana.

Although the First Lady has turned around to deny contacting the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Falana insists he was fully and duly briefed by the troubled Governor’s wife to act on her behalf.

In Falana’s petition 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.”

The petitioned elicited widespread condemnation and calls for the immediate “release” of the First Lady from house arrest. The Igwes must have been overjoyed by what appears an imminent end to their agony. But all that soon changed as Clara appeared, flanked by her husband and a sibling, to put a lie to Falana’s petition.

But while denying sending Falana on any ‘Save-My-Soul’ appeal, Mrs. Chime and her husband confirmed the fact that she has serious medical challenges as well as the gory tales of how she has been confined indoor for months.

The troubled woman didn’t also fail to tell the world that it is not her wish to be so held. The absence of her mother at the briefing also suggests that the old woman is still determined to see her daughter out there in search of good health.

For now, Governor Chime has promised to take a decision that will be in the interest of all concerned, especially Clara Chime.

“I’m forever grateful to her doctors who have done a great job. Both families will are billed to meet very soon and after that, I’ll take a decision which will be in the interest of both parties,” the Governor said.

Until then, the travails of the First Lady continues.

 

The Court of Appeal, Abuja has fixed December 5 for hearing of a suit challenging the legitimacy of process through which Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, emerged as the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.

A chieftain of the party, who claimed to have been cleared by the party for its primary prior to the election, Alexander Obiechina, had gone before the Federal High Court, Abuja, contending that the governorship primary held by the party on January 12, 2011 (which produced Chime) was flawed.

He argued, among others, that it held in breach of the provisions of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act (EA).

Obiechina, who argued that party failed to comply with the EA in conducting the primary, urged the trial court to determine whether Section 85(1) of the EA in fixing January 12 for the primary, a date short of the number of days provided in the Act.

The trial court, presided over by Justice Adamu Bello, refused to entertain the suit for want of jurisdiction, a decision Obiechina appealed.

Yesterday, a three-man panel led by Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem fixed the December 5 hearing date after entertaining and ruling on preliminary applications by parties.

The appellate court in its rulings abridged time within which the 3rd respondent (Chime) should file his reply brief. He is to do that within 15 days. The court also deemed the reply brief, filed out of time by the 2nd respondent (PDP), as properly filed.

The first time it came into public knowledge was in the dying days of last month. And it was the tale of an abused wife crying out for help. Nothing was heard again until prominent Lagos lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana joined the fray.

Falana, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, accused Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime of abusing his wife, Clara.

Falana’s position was based on a petition allegedly sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by Clara.

Mrs. Chime, in the petition, said her husband locked her up in a room and denied her access to her four-year old son and visitors.

Falana, in the letter to the IG, said his client was being held against her will in the Government House on the order of the governor.

He said: “For some inexplicable reason, our client (Mrs. Chime) has been kept incommunicado in solitary confinement in one of the rooms in the Government House, Enugu, Enugu State for over four months on the directives of Governor Chime.”

He urged the police boss to intervene and ensure the release of Mrs. Chime or in the alternative, he would approach the Federal High Court to compel him to discharge his duty in the circumstance.

But, the matter may not be as straight as Falana thinks. It emerged late Tuesday night that Mrs Chime is confined on the order of her doctor as a result of a mental challenge she has been battling since 2011.

The governor and Mrs. Chime spoke to reporters Tuesday night at the Government Lodge, Enugu in the presence of Mrs. Chime’s elder brother, Mr. Tony Igwe, the governor’s siblings, Mrs. May Oji and Dr. Jide Chime as well as Mrs. Chime’s neuro-psychiatric doctor, Dr. Aham Agumuo. The Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security (DSS) were also present.

Chime said it was quite painful for him to speak out publicly about his wife’s health challenges but insisted that he would do everything, no matter the personal pains, to protect her from ridicule.

He said: “My wife has some medical challenges and it would be very unkind of me to talk about her condition on the pages of newspapers. I’ve done everything to protect her integrity and I’m not now going to expose her to ridicule because some people want to exploit her situation to drag me into a needless war of words.

“We’ve been battling this (Clara’s health challenges) prior to my inauguration in 2011. It was so bad at a time that she had to be taken out of here (Governor’s Lodge) for treatment. When she stabilised, I pleaded with her doctors if she could be brought back here to be receiving her treatment at home and they graciously accepted.

“There was a time she was confined indoors and that was strictly on her doctors’ advice. She’s here and she can confirm or deny it. Also, the doctors then advised against allowing her access to telephones and laptop.”

The governor, at this point, paused, sighed and continued: “I cannot say or do anything to undermine her dignity. She is, first and foremost, my wife. The big blunder I committed was allowing her access to the telephone and her laptop, against the advice of her doctor. I’m paying dearly for that today, going by what is happening now.

“Her brother is here, her doctor is here with us too. You people (journalists) can confirm anything you want from them, either here and at your convenience. Would I have been a better husband if I asked her to leave the Lodge because of her medical challenge? Would it not have been more convenient for me if I allowed her to stay and be treated in the hospital?

“But like I said earlier, I wanted the best for her and that’s why I pleaded with the doctors to have her treated at home. That’s also why I allowed her access to her telephone and laptop, which unfortunately, led to the stage where I’m now being falsely accused of imprisoning or detaining my own wife.”

Mrs. Chime initially did not speak, despite persuasions from her husband and brother, who later took her to an adjacent room where they spent a few minutes before returning to join the others.

Eventually, Mrs. Chime said: “You (referring to the governor) and my doctor can speak on my behalf.”

The governor replied: “Yes; I’m your husband and should ordinarily do so but you know I’m the one being accused of detaining you. This way, I’ve lost that privilege to speak for you, at least on this case. The story out there also is that your doctor is probably scared of me and gives you all kinds of drugs, sometimes against your wish.”

To this, she said: “My doctor and I don’t have any problem.”

On the petition to the National Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Chime said she had not met Falana or engaged him to seek her release from an alleged unlawful custody. She admitted that she wrote a letter to her doctor, Dr. Agumuo and another doctor overseas. She feigned ignorance of how the letter leaked to the public.

She admitted that she was once confined to a room without access to her telephone and laptop.

“That was when I had a serious crisis,”she said.

Mrs. Chime also confirmed that she has the key to her room and controls her entry and exit. Her grouse, she said, was that she had not been allowed to leave the premises, except for mass on Sunday.

Chime added: “All I want to reassure you is that she is safe here. Her confinement within the premises for now is at the instance of her doctor who is here. Why would I want my wife locked up? If it had been that I had issues with her, there are many ways to resolve them. But that’s not the case. She is not well and I’m willing to do anything to support and protect her.

“It was always more convenient for me to have taken the easier route but that would have been very callous and ungodly. When I had my own health challenge, I was receiving treatment in London and thinking about her, making sure she received the right treatment. I’m forever grateful to her doctors who have done a great job. Both families are billed to meet very soon and after that, I’ll take a decision which will be in the interest of both parties.”

On his reaction to the petition to the IGP by Falana, the governor said: “He’s my professional colleague but sometimes you leave people to their conscience. I won’t join words with him. Has he met this client of his as he claimed to assess her state of mind and determine if she can give him the right brief to guide his case? Did he ask for access to her or to me and was denied? I leave it at that.

“That’s the penalty you face as a public officer. When I was receiving treatment in London, some of the newspapers reported that I had died in India. I’ve never been to India and had never applied for an Indian visa. Today, the story is that I’ve imprisoned my own wife in my residence. I know their motives but I wish those behind such wicked tales well.”

Falana last night defended his engagement by Mrs Chime.

He said she requested for his service through someone he called simply Chief Owei.

The letter, according to Falana, reads:”Dear Chief Owei, I, Clara Chime (Mrs,) hereby instruct you to reach out to Femi Falana (SAN) of Falana N Falana Chambers, Ikeja, Lagos on my behalf for him to take all necessary legal steps to secure my freedom from Government House, Enugu State where am presently detained. Your speedy action will be appreciated.

“Sincerely yours, Clara.”

overnor Sullivan Chime has expressed shock and regret over Thursday’s fatal plane crash in Lagos.

He described the incident as another sad chapter in the nation’s aviation history.

The governor, in a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, called for full investigations into the incident.

He said such investigation would help avert similar tragedies in future.

While commiserating with the families of those who died in the crash, Chime urged airline operators to always ensure that their aircraft were in top conditions, adding that the nation cannot continue to bear the trauma of frequent crashes.

He commended concerned federal agencies and other rescue workers for the prompt efforts they made to rescue survivors of the incident.

The Enugu State Government has donated ten new Toyota Hilux vans to the Nigerian Army, Air Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as part of efforts to combat crime and enhance the comparatively highly level of security in the state.

Presenting the vehicles on behalf of Governor Sullivan Chime, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Mr Richard Chime noted that the gesture was aimed at the sustenance of the status of Enugu state as one of the safest in the country.

He said that of the ten vehicles, six would go to the Army, while the Airforce and the NSCDC would take two each.

Chime said that the governor appreciated the efforts of the Security Agencies in combating crime and criminality in the state and expressed that the vehicles would help the agencies in their avowed determination to stamp out crime in the state.

Responding on behalf of the other security chiefs, the Commander of the Air Force Base, Enugu, Air Commander Jacob Gbanwuuan commended Chime for his support to and cordial relations with all security outfits in the state adding that this has helped to ensure adequate security of lives and property.

He assured that the gesture would go a long way towards maintaining the posture of the state as a reference point as far as the issue of safety and security is concerned.

The Nigerian Army and the Civil Defence Corps were represented by the Garrison Commander, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General, Isdore Edet and the Commandant, NSCDC, Enugu State Command, Mr Nathaniel Ubong.

Governor Chime had earlier this year donated over one hundred specialised patrol vehicles to the Nigerian Police and another six to the Department of State Security (DSS).