TheCable

The federal government says it is still working on getting justice for Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian lady who died in prison in Côte d’Ivoire.

Zubairu Dada, minister of state for foreign affairs, spoke on Thursday at a media briefing at the presidential villa in Abuja.

BACKGROUND

Itunu, who resided in Cote d’Ivoire, had reported to the police that her house in Bondoukou was burgled, but she was said to have been charged to court and accused of involvement in human trafficking.

She was eventually convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison — the jail term was later reduced to 10 years.

David Hundeyin, a journalist, published Itunu’s story via Twitter, and the post eventually gained the attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

But on November 15, she died in prison in Cote d’Ivoire — after spending more than two years in incarceration.

Her death sparked outrage among Nigerians who called on the federal government to ensure that justice is served, while Emmanuel Babalola, the deceased’s father, rejected the result of the autopsy conducted on Itunu.

The autopsy report had stated that Itunu died of “sepsis complicated by acute respiratory distress”.

‘WE’VE APPROACHED THE APPEAL COURT IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE’

Giving an update on the case on Thursday, Dada said the Nigerian authorities have approached the appeal court in Cote D’Ivoire in a bid to get justice for Itunu.

“We’re talking about a sovereign nation and this matter was taken to a court. The only recourse we have as a nation is to go back to that court to appeal,” he said.

“We have gone to court to appeal that process. It was in that process that she fell sick and died. We insisted that an autopsy be done on her body, which has been done.

“We are still following the appeal in court. It is their law which we have to respect. Again, diplomacy is the only way to go. We have the tacit support of the house committee on diaspora.

“At the time, the consulate staff of the Nigerian embassy contributed from their pocket to assist this lady who was in difficulty. They procured legal services for her and we know that the case is still in court. The ambassador also paid out of his own money.

“Again, we had insisted that an autopsy be done on the corpse, which I guess, was also done. And we’re also raising issues. While we are not fully satisfied, we’re raising issues with appropriate authorities to ensure that justice is done.

“So, even in death, we’re not leaving the matter. We are still pursuing the appeal in court, because that is the only resort that we have.

“We cannot take the laws into our hands in Ivory Coast. Whether they jailed her wrongly or rightly, it is the law, which we have to respect. We have no choice over the matter. And, again, diplomacy is the only way to go.

“I mean, it has not got to the level of reciprocity. How do you even set about applying the principle of reciprocity in a matter like this. But like I said, we have made all the noises, and I mean, at the right places, we have a complaint and we’re still complaining.

“We are insisting that justice must be done for this lady who died in detention. In fact, in this we have the tacit support of the house of representatives committee on diaspora and, of course, NIDCOM. We’re all doing this together.”