Falana: Chime’s Wife Briefed Me to Represent Her

Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana,
Thursday disputed the claims of Enugu State
Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, that his wife,
Clara, did not brief him to defend her interest.
Falana, in a statement, said contrary to the
claim of the governor and his wife, Mrs. Chime
gave him the brief to secure her release from
illegal custody at the Government House,
Enugu.
The governor, in his first public reaction to
allegations of illegally confining his wife to the
Government House, on Tuesday night had told
reporters that Falana did not have the consent
of his wife to petition the Inspector General of
Police (IG) to ensure her freedom.
The lawyer in a November 1 letter to the IG
had demanded the release of Mrs. Chime from
unlawful custody and the prosecution of the
governor's security detail and family members
that were accomplices in holding the
governor's wife against her wish.
But reacting to the governor's claim, Falana
said it was diversionary as he did not need the
instructions of citizens who are illegally
detained to demand their release.
"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 the 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.
"Having confirmed the allegation that he has
wilfully infringed on 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," he added.
THISDAY gathered that there was a grand
conspiracy by the governor and some of his
in-laws to deceive the public on the state of
mental health of Mrs. Chime.
A source accused some siblings of Mrs. Chime
of conniving with the governor to keep her in
unlawful custody for pecuniary gain.
According to him, the family members would
rather prefer that she remains in captivity so
long as they are benefitting from their
relationship with the governor than for her to
be freed.
He explained that one of the siblings was
using their relationship with the governor to
win contracts from the state government.
"Their belief is that if this lie is sustained,
those who genuinely want to help Clara out of
her predicament would abandon her. Mrs.
Chime is sane and very resoundingly so.
Neuro-psychiatrists can be invited to test her.
There is no madness in her family line, Mrs.
Chime told me.
"Since this matter is now a public
embarrassment to Governor Chime, if Clara is
abandoned, she is bound to lose her life in that
confinement. She is crying out," the source
said.