Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center, WARDC, have petitioned United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, UNWGAD, to investigate allegations of illegal detention of Mrs Clara Chime, wife of Enugu State Governor, by her husband, Mr. Sullivan Chime.
The groups, in the petition addressed to Mr. El Hadji Malick SOW, Chair-Rapporteur of the UN agency, requested an urgent appeal to the governor and the Nigerian government to release her from “unlawful detention without further delay.”
“The continuing restriction and violation of Mrs Chime’s rights also constitutes violence against women, especially given the physical and psychological suffering she is currently facing.”
The petition signed by Adetokunbo Mumuni and Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi for SERAP and WARDC, respectively, said: “The rights to liberty and to health are necessary for a life in dignity.
“This right is clearly recognised under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights both of which Nigeria has ratified.”
They added, “this deprivation and compulsory confinement is not in conformity with international human rights standards, and cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever.
“By restricting the movement of Mrs Chime and limiting her right to liberty, we strongly believe that her internationally recognised right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including the right to medical care in functioning public health and healthcare facilities, is seriously being violated.”
