Father of late Itunu wrongly jailed in Cote d’Ivoire prison decry delayed justice

Mr. Abayomi Babalola, the father of Itunu, the Nigerian lady who died in Cote d’ Ivoire prison after she was wrongly jailed, has appealed to the government of Nigeria to deploy more diplomatic means to get justice for his late daughter.  Mr. Babalola who stated that he does not want his daughter to die in […]

Mr. Abayomi Babalola, the father of Itunu, the Nigerian lady who died in Cote d’ Ivoire prison after she was wrongly jailed, has appealed to the government of Nigeria to deploy more diplomatic means to get justice for his late daughter. 

Mr. Babalola who stated that he does not want his daughter to die in vain said the shock he suffered from the death of his daughter is affecting his health.  

The deceased’s father maintained that the only thing that will give him and the entire family rest of mind is justice for Itunu. 

He noted that even though his family and the Nigerian government had rejected the doctored autopsy presented by the government of Cote d’Ivoire; nothing seem to be happening. 

Babalola who was visibly weak spoke while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital appealed to the Nigerian government not to allow his daughter to die in vain. 

Twenty-four-year-old Itunu Babalola from Oyo State reportedly died on November 14, 2021,  in Cote d’Ivoire prison. 

Itunu reportedly got entangled in a legal battle when she reported to the police that her house in Bondoukou, Cote d’Ivoire had been burgled. 

She was said to have been charged to court and the prosecutor, in collaboration with the police, allegedly compromised the case and accused her of human trafficking. She was thereafter convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which was later reduced to 10 years, but she died two years into her jail term. 

Father of the deceased said; “My daughter must not die in vain. I am still in shock over the death of my daughter. Though, the Chairman House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolulope Sadipe has promised to take it up but I think the executive arm of government needs to do more.  

“We rejected the autopsy result because we suspected that the result had been doctored. I want justice. If our fellow African men are treating us this way, then we are doomed. The only thing that will give me and the entire family rest of mind is justice. I want justice for Itunu,” he said.