Ndiomu
The
Office of the Public Defender, a department under the Lagos State
Ministry of Justice, has visited 40-year-old Toyin Ndiomu, the lady who
was dumped in an asylum by her mother for attending an “unconventional”
church.
It was learnt that following a publication of Ndiomu story by THE PUNCH
on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, the government directed the OPD to
investigate the matter and make sure that Ndiomu’s rights were not being
infringed upon.
Our correspondent learnt that a team of three people from the OPD subsequently visited Farri Psychiatric Hospital on Tuesday.
Mr. Benjamin Odeh, a lawyer with a human
rights group, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, told our
correspondent that Ndiomu’s immediate family, the head of the hospital
and the OPD held a meeting at the hospital.
Odeh said a representative of the OPD
was allowed access to Ndiomu, while the doctor, L.A Farri, said the
victim’s health was improving.
He said, “The doctor explained to us
that when Ndiomu was brought in two weeks ago, she was not coherent and
was labelled an ‘involuntary patient’. However, now that her health has
improved and she had gradually come back to her senses, she is now a
‘voluntary patient’.
“Soon after, a representative of the OPD was allowed to go into the ward to see her.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Ndiomu’s family has written a petition against the pastor of Jordan Ministries, Chigbo Ndukwe.
The petition, which was addressed to the
Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Lagos is
also seeking an order restraining the pastor from having contact with
Ndiomu.
A family member, who craved anonymity,
told our correspondent on the telephone that Ndiomu’s behaviour changed
since she started attending the church a few years ago.
The Information Officer, Western Naval
Command, Lt.cmdr Jerry Omodara, said the Nigerian Navy was not involved
in the abduction of Ndiomu.
He said, “On the day Ndiomu was seized
by her family at Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA, Ikeja, where she was
marking her 40th birthday party, she was bundled by some securitymen
whose uniform is similar to the naval uniform.
“Although Ndiomu’s father was a naval officer, it was not naval operatives that accompanied the family to the party.”
When contacted on the telephone, the
Director, OPD, Mrs.Omotola Rotimi, confirmed that her agency visited the
victim in hospital. She however said she could not state the next line
of action.
“I sent some of my people to the
hospital but they have not yet briefed me on the matter. When they brief
me, we’ll know what next to do,” she said.
PUNCH
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