Gov Chime's wife is suffering from hallucination and depression - Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has confirmed that the wife of Enugu State Governor, Clara Chime, is battling with occasional "hallucinations and depression". It however said she is conscious of her environment and relates well with those she encounters.

Professor Bem Angwe, NHRC's Executive Secretary, revealed this yesterday while releasing his agency's preliminary report on its ongoing investigation into a petition by the governor's wife.

She petitioned the commission, complaining of rights abuses, including being allegedly held incommunicado by her husband against her wish.

Angwe said he led a team of the commission's investigators to Enugu on Thursday to ascertain the true position of things. He said in the course of the commission's investigation, the team had private and group interactions with the Governor, Sullivan Chime, his wife, his mother-in-law, Mrs Patience Igwe, and some other relatives of the couple.

According to him, the First Lady is suffering from some medical conditions; that she has had to stay in a medical facility and that she had lost confidence in the medical expert currently handling her case.

Angwe said: "The investigating team held a five-hour meeting with Governor Chime, Mrs 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. A. Uzegu, a London-based consultant psychiatrist and forensic examiner, who is the doctor the complainant prefers, also joined the meeting through teleconference.

"Both parties have agreed that Mrs Chime 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 advice on further steps to be taken in respect of her treatment".