Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), characterized the death of the 21-year-old as a devastating blow in a statement released on Monday, IgbereTV reports.
She claimed Itunu died at a time when the Nigerian embassy in Côte d’Ivoire had paid for and hired a lawyer to handle his appeal case.
Nigerians reacted angrily to her death, accusing the federal government of abandoning her.
She died last night after contracting an infection in prison, according to reports.
Nigerians reacted angrily to her death, accusing the federal government of abandoning her.
The Nigerian government has sought a comprehensive autopsy into the death of Itunu Babalola, a native of Oyo State who died in Cote D’ivoire.
Abike assured that Itunu’s death will not stop the appeal in court.
She said, “Unfortunately, Itunnu died abruptly while all hands were on deck to seek both legal and diplomatic intervention for her by Nigeria.
“Itunnu was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for an offence she did not apparently commit.
“She was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment while the Nigerian mission in Cote d’Ivoire supported by the Nigerian community, got her a lawyer, paid part payment of legal fees for the lawyer, to appeal the judgment, while at the same time seeking diplomatic intervention from the Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The staff of the Nigeria mission had also visited Itunu in prison, a distance of over four hours from Abidjan.
She noted that the fees for the treatment was paid by the Nigerian mission through the lawyer whose services were engaged by the mission.
“Her death, will however, not stop the appeal in court in order to vindicate her of the charges against her”, Abike added.
