…FG Demands Investigation
The death of Ms. Itunu Babalola, a 21-year-old Nigerian citizen who was wrongfully detained by authorities in Cote d’Ivoire has sparked outrage among Nigerians.
Reports emerged on Monday that Babalola passed away in the custody of the Ivorian police, eight months after being unlawfully detained.
A Nigerian journalist, David Hundeyin shared the news of the demise of the young lady on his twitter page.
Before now, Hundeyin, had in a series of tweets in March revealed that Babalola, a trader based in Bondoukou, Cote d’Ivoire was arrested and detained by some Ivorian police operatives for rejecting a bribe offered by a DPO.
Babalola’s residence was said to have been burgled by some unknown persons. She, in turn reported the incident to the police.
Investigations conducted after the incident revealed that the DPO’s nephew was reportedly responsible for the invasion of Babalola’s residence.
It was reported the DPO allegedly offered Babalola a settlement worth roughly N100,000 to drop the case. She rejected the offer and insisted to press charges against the criminals responsible for the invasion of her residence.
But Babalola was subsequently arrested and charged to court for human trafficking and sentenced to 10 years in prison in a conspiracy that was allegedly masterminded by persons within the Ivorian authorities.
Earlier in the year while reacting to the development, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had confirmed that the lady was charged and incarcerated for a crime she didn’t commit.
“Following painstaking investigations by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, it is now confirmed that Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian living in Abidjan was wrongfully charged and incarcerated for a crime she did not commit.
“Plans are underway to engage the services of a legal luminary to prove the innocence of Itunu Babalola at the Court of Appeal after the accused had spent two years out of a ten-year jail term for an offence she did not commit,” the commission had said in a statement.
However, eight months after the commission promised to investigate the matter, news about the demise of Babalola broke into the media space.
Hundeyin who took to his twitter handle informed that Babalola contracted an infection in the Ivorian prison, leading to her death on Sunday’s evening.
“Itunu is dead. She died this night. Just confirmed,” Hundeyin said in a tweet.
Many Nigerians upon hearing the news expressed their anger over the lacklustre attitude of the Federal Government. Many accused the government of not doing enough to secure the safety of its citizen.
Reacting in a statement issued on Monday, Dabiri-Erewa described the demise of Babalola as a tragic and unfortunate loss.
The NIDCOM boss lamented that the demise of Babalola came at a time the Nigerian mission in Côte Divoire had paid and engaged the services of a lawyer to handle Itunu’s appeal case.
She, however assured that the commission will do all in its capacity to get justice for Babalola even after her death.
The statement reads, “The staff of the Nigerian mission had also visited Itunu in prison, a distance of over four hours from Abidjan.
“While the appeal case was on, Itunu was said to have developed complications from diabetes and was rushed to the hospital.
“The fees for the treatment was paid by the Nigerian mission through the lawyer whose services were engaged by the mission; unfortunately, she died suddenly after a few days of admission at the hospital.
“Her death, will, however, not stop the appeal in court in order to vindicate her of the charges against her.” The NiDCOM Chairman said.
