We Have Not Compromised Clara Chime's Case..NHRC Boss

Chairman of the governing council of  the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Chidi Odinkalu, has described allegations that the commission may have been compromised in the conduct of the case of the alleged illegal detention of wife of the Enugu State governor, Mrs Clara Chime by her husband as factually inaccurate and manifestly unfounded.

Odinkalu, in a statement in Abuja, said “I have been inundated by inquiries about the ongoing processes of the NHRC in relation to a recent complaint initiated by Mrs Chime.

“As the complainant in this case is the spouse of a senior political office holder. This complaint has naturally elicited somewhat fevered public interest. 
“In connection with this matter and, in the past 72 hours, the commission deployed a high level investigation team in Enugu. Professor Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary of the commission, led the team,” he added.

Odinkalu added that “upon returning from Enugu, the Executive Secretary, reflecting the public interest in this case, exercised judgment in authorising and issuing on November 8, a public statement on the visit.

“As a practice, cases and complaints received by the commission are processed in accordance with the National Human Rights Commission Act, (as amended) and with the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure of the Commission.

“Having carefully reviewed the work so far undertaken by the staff of the commission, I find no bases in them for the claims or speculation widely circulated in the media, that the commission has pronounced on the state of health, physical or mental, of the complainant or, indeed, of any other party in this case.

“The commission takes seriously its responsibility to fully respect the confidentiality of parties before it and to reach its decisions only on the bases of law and evidence.”

He added that “allegations that the commission may have been compromised in the conduct of the case are both factually inaccurate and manifestly unfounded.”

The NHRC chairman appealed to the public to respect the rights and dignity of the parties to pending cases and respect the integrity of the processes of the commission, guaranteed by its governing council.

Also, the commission, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mohammed Ladan, denied making any allusion to the state of health of Clara, as reported in some national dailies.