An elderly woman, Mrs. Florence Omotehinwa, has been
accused of bundling her 40-year-old daughter, Mrs. Toyin Ndiomu, in a psychiatric
hospital for attending “an unconventional” church.
accused of bundling her 40-year-old daughter, Mrs. Toyin Ndiomu, in a psychiatric
hospital for attending “an unconventional” church.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim, who attends Jordan Ministries, Opebi,
Lagos, was abducted on January 12, 2013, at 25 Joel Ogunnaike Street, while she
was celebrating her 40th birthday.
Lagos, was abducted on January 12, 2013, at 25 Joel Ogunnaike Street, while she
was celebrating her 40th birthday.
A legal consultant with Project Alert on Violence Against
Women, Mr. Benjamin Odeh, told our correspondent that the victim was a mother
of two and had been separated from her husband because of domestic violence.
Women, Mr. Benjamin Odeh, told our correspondent that the victim was a mother
of two and had been separated from her husband because of domestic violence.
Odeh said on the day the victim was abducted, her mother
stormed her party with naval operatives and policemen.
stormed her party with naval operatives and policemen.
He said, “On that day, Mrs. Omotehinwa and Ndiomu’s
estranged husband came with two women, naval personnel and two armed policemen.
They seized the victim, pushed her into a vehicle and sped off.”
estranged husband came with two women, naval personnel and two armed policemen.
They seized the victim, pushed her into a vehicle and sped off.”
He said the victim was taken to Farri Psychiatric
Hospital, where she was being kept incommunicado.
Hospital, where she was being kept incommunicado.
When PUNCH Metro visited the hospital located on Gbaja
Street, Surulere, the matron denied our correspondent access to Ndiomu, saying
that she had been given strict orders by her mother not to allow visitors to
have access to her.
Street, Surulere, the matron denied our correspondent access to Ndiomu, saying
that she had been given strict orders by her mother not to allow visitors to
have access to her.
The matron, who did not identify herself, said, “This is
not a conventional hospital, it is a hospital for patients with mental
illnesses and as such we cannot allow just anybody to see her.
not a conventional hospital, it is a hospital for patients with mental
illnesses and as such we cannot allow just anybody to see her.
“Her mother said no one should be allowed to see her and
we are standing by that instruction. We don’t know anything about abduction;
our own responsibility is to treat patients.”
we are standing by that instruction. We don’t know anything about abduction;
our own responsibility is to treat patients.”
After waiting for hour, Omotehinwa, showed up at the
hospital. She told our correspondent that she brought her daughter to the
hospital because she had been brainwashed by the church she was attending.
hospital. She told our correspondent that she brought her daughter to the
hospital because she had been brainwashed by the church she was attending.
Omotehinwa described the church as occult, adding that it
was the pastor of the church, Chigbo Ndukwe, that made her daughter to leave
her husband, saying that the separation was not because of domestic violence.
was the pastor of the church, Chigbo Ndukwe, that made her daughter to leave
her husband, saying that the separation was not because of domestic violence.
She said, “Since my daughter started attending that
church, her life has not been the same. She is now distant from the entire
family to the extent that she now addresses me as Mrs. Omotehinwa, not mummy.
church, her life has not been the same. She is now distant from the entire
family to the extent that she now addresses me as Mrs. Omotehinwa, not mummy.
“That church is a cult, they hold their services at 6am on
Saturday and they kiss their pastor on his hands and feet to greet him. Almost
all the women there are divorced. They even changed my daughter’s name to Ifeanyichukwu
Ndwukwe
Saturday and they kiss their pastor on his hands and feet to greet him. Almost
all the women there are divorced. They even changed my daughter’s name to Ifeanyichukwu
Ndwukwe
“As her mother, I have done nothing wrong by bringing her
to this hospital because I have her best interest at heart. She is the second
of my four children and I raised all of them singlehanded after their father, a
Rear Admiral, was killed 17 years ago.”
to this hospital because I have her best interest at heart. She is the second
of my four children and I raised all of them singlehanded after their father, a
Rear Admiral, was killed 17 years ago.”
Omotehinwa however said her daughter had no history of
mental illness.
mental illness.
Dr.LA Farri, who owns the hospital, confirmed to our
correspondent on the telephone that the victim was indeed mentally unstable.
correspondent on the telephone that the victim was indeed mentally unstable.
Farri said he was empowered by law to hold a mentally
unstable person against his or her will.
unstable person against his or her will.
He said, “I am an expert and a London-trained
neuropsychiatric and I have been practising for over 25 years. I was Chief
consultant neuropsychiatric at the General Hospital, so I know my onions.
neuropsychiatric and I have been practising for over 25 years. I was Chief
consultant neuropsychiatric at the General Hospital, so I know my onions.
“The victim was treated a few years ago at Yaba
Psychiatric Hospital after showing signs of mental illness.
Psychiatric Hospital after showing signs of mental illness.
“Section 10 of the Nigerian constitution empowers me to
hold anyone that seems unfit mentally. The police have already sent me a letter
on the matter and I will respond.”
hold anyone that seems unfit mentally. The police have already sent me a letter
on the matter and I will respond.”
A copy of the victim’s case file reads in part that she
suffers from “Delusional thinking, schizophrenia and she exhibits paranoia
towards members of her kith and kin.”
suffers from “Delusional thinking, schizophrenia and she exhibits paranoia
towards members of her kith and kin.”
When our correspondent visited Jordan Ministries located
on 5 Agbaoku Street, Opebi, the pastor denied the allegations.
on 5 Agbaoku Street, Opebi, the pastor denied the allegations.
Pastor Ndukwe said those involved in brainstorming were
Ndiomu family and that was why they locked her up in an asylum even though
nothing was wrong with her.
Ndiomu family and that was why they locked her up in an asylum even though
nothing was wrong with her.
Ndukwe said Ndiomu was a victim of domestic violence,
adding that her husband and the family took the step because he (Ndukwe) did
not encourage her to go and reconcile with her husband.
adding that her husband and the family took the step because he (Ndukwe) did
not encourage her to go and reconcile with her husband.
He said, “A 40-years-old woman should be able to choose
where she wants to worship? The main issue is that Ndiomu’s mother wants her to
remain with her husband because this is Toyin’s second marriage. They wanted me
to encourage her to go back to her husband but I did not because God did not
instruct me to do that.
where she wants to worship? The main issue is that Ndiomu’s mother wants her to
remain with her husband because this is Toyin’s second marriage. They wanted me
to encourage her to go back to her husband but I did not because God did not
instruct me to do that.
“The family claims she is brainwashed and yet she runs a
successful business. The mother has deliberately prevented anyone from seeing
her because she knows there is nothing wrong with her.”
successful business. The mother has deliberately prevented anyone from seeing
her because she knows there is nothing wrong with her.”
Ndukwe said the allegation that his church was occult was
an attempt to tarnish his image.
an attempt to tarnish his image.
He said, “I hold services on Saturday so that members can
go to their respective churches on Sunday. My sermons are on CD free of charge
and anyone is free to come and attend any of our services if they have doubts.”
go to their respective churches on Sunday. My sermons are on CD free of charge
and anyone is free to come and attend any of our services if they have doubts.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the police at the Zone 2
Command had begun investigation into the matter after a petition by her lawyer.
Command had begun investigation into the matter after a petition by her lawyer.
The source said, “The police have written the doctor but
we are not yet satisfied with the case because the doctor has not disclosed all
the facts due to patient-doctor confidentiality”, she said.
we are not yet satisfied with the case because the doctor has not disclosed all
the facts due to patient-doctor confidentiality”, she said.
When contacted on telephone, the spokesperson for the
command, Femi Balogun, said he could not immediately confirm because he had not
been briefed on the matter.
command, Femi Balogun, said he could not immediately confirm because he had not
been briefed on the matter.
Source: Punch
