The House of Representatives has ordered the review of Benue State’s coronavirus (COVID-19) index case, Susan Idoko, who has accused the government, in a viral video on social media, of refusing to discharge her from quarantine, despite “not” having contracted the virus.

Recall that Flavision reported on Sunday, May 10th, 2020: Coronavirus: I’m Not Responsible For Your Woes, Ortom Tells Benue Index Case

The action of the House followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by a member, Blessing Onuh, at plenary on Tuesday. It was entitled,

Urgent Need to Look into the Release of Mrs. Susan Idoko Okpe, Nee Lawani, Who was Quarantined by the Government Following Misinformation and Diagnosis.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to

mandate the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, through the Federal Ministry of Health, to critically evaluate her as a matter of urgency and if proved otherwise, should be allowed to go home.

The parliament also tasked the ministry and NCDC with carrying out quality contact tracing and encourage persons who are symptomatic to go for proper clinical evaluation and management, with prompt release when they return to their premorbid state.

The House also discouraged violation of human rights, inhumane treatment and stigmatisation.

Moving the motion, Onuh said,

The House notes that one Mrs Susan Idoko-Okpe, nee Lawani, a 56-year-old woman who is an indigene of Benue State with a dual citizenship from the United Kingdom, flew into the country for her mother‘s funeral on the 22nd of March this year. Unfortunately, she got quarantined by the government for the COVID-19 virus, an assertion backed up by discrepancies in the laboratory results.

The House is aware that Idoko-Okpe had a long flight following her departure from the United Kingdom and must have had jet-lag, a common occurrence which necessitated her presentation to the Cottage Hospital where she was primarily managed.

The House is disturbed that the details of this ldoko-Okpe is not consistent with that of the lady who was referred from Benue State Teaching Hospital Makurdi to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

The lawmaker added that the personal information on the laboratory result from the NCDC did not also tally with her personal details.

She further said,

The House is concerned that Idoko-Okpe, who is bereaved, is beginning to deteriorate psychologically and already having suicidal thoughts. This is worsened by the fact that she has been in isolation for about 50 days without any form of treatment. It is imperative to stress further that the test result given to her was questionable as it didn‘t carry her information’s correctly – definitely not hers.

The House is disturbed that the details of this ldoko-Okpe is not consistent with that of the lady who was referred from Benue State Teaching Hospital Makurdi to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

According to Onuh, the woman has also been forced to undergo COVID-19 treatment, even though she hasn’t exhibited any symptom for the deadly virus.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.