Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has stated that justice must be served for the Nigerian lady, Itunu Babalola who died in jail in Cote D’Ivoire.
Itunu got into trouble when her apartment in Bondoukou, Cote d’Ivoire was burgled in September 2019.
The report took a curious twist when she reported the burglary to the Ivorian police. The Nigerian was arrested and accused of human trafficking after she refused to bribe the police.
21-year-old Itunu was charged to court and sentenced to 20 years in prison, a term that was later reduced to 10 years.
While speaking on a Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said that the Nigerian government will ensure that justice is served the deceased.
The NIDCOM boss added that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is already aware of the case and is investigating it.
Dabiri-Erewa vowed to ensure that there is no cover-up or compromise. She added that the Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’ivoire has demanded an autopsy.
According to her, “Right now, the Ambassador has demanded that an autopsy be conducted, a strong statement has been issued on their website and condemned the way she was treated in the first place. How does burglary become human trafficking even if she used a fake name ?
“We are waiting for the result of the autopsy and the Ivorian government has promised that everything will be done and no cover-ups.
“We don’t expect that this case will just go away like that, the case must go on; so that even in death she must get justice. NIDCOM has written to Interpol. They should look into it.
“The office of the Attorney-General is following the case, the Nigerian government won’t allow it go away like that.”
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‘Justice Must Be Served’- Abike Dabiri on Nigerian Murdered in Cote D’Ivoire Jail