The Federal government has demanded a full autopsy over the death of a Nigerian and Oyo State indigene, Itunu Babalola, who died in Cote D’ivoire.
Itunu who was wrongfully incarcerated in Cote D’ivoire, died on Sunday.
She was said to have contracted an infection in prison which led to her death last night.
Her death had stirred reactions from Nigerians who accused the federal government of abandoning her.
But reacting, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement on Monday described the death of the 21- year old as a tragic blow.
She said Itunu died at a time when the Nigerian mission in Côte D’ivoire had paid and engaged the services of a lawyer to handle Itunu’s appeal case.
“Unfortunately, Itunu died abruptly while all hands were on deck to seek both legal and diplomatic intervention for her by Nigeria.”
Abike assured that Itunu’s death will not stop the appeal in court.
“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.
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