Nigerians on social media have lamented the sudden death of Itunu Babalola, the 23-year-old Nigerian lady, who was wrongly incarcerated in Cote D’lvoire prison.
Nigerians on the microblogging platform, Twitter have also lambasted the Nigerian government over its failure to secure the release of the young woman despite her innocence.
Many have called on the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri, and Nigeria's foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama to explain why Itunu was not released before now.
Eight months ago, the Nigerian Government, through NIDCOM and the Nigerian Mission in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire had said its investigation into the case of Itunu Babalola showed that she was innocent and had been framed up.
The government said the former prosecutor in Cote D’Ivoire in collaboration with the police twisted the case against Babalola and accused the woman of human trafficking, leading to her conviction for 10 years, out of which she had unjustly served two years.
Gabriel Odu, of the NIDCOM’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, issued a statement at the time which noted that the Nigerian government would move to rescue Babalola having established that she was framed up by the Ivorian government.
The government had said, “Following painstaking investigations by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire, it is now confirmed that Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian living in Abidjan was wrongfully charged and incarcerated for a crime she did not commit.
“According to the Chairman of the NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Charge D’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Côte D’Ivoire, Mr Mohammed Gana, sent officials of the mission to Bondoukou, a city eight hours outside Abidjan when the case was brought to his attention.
"Plans are underway to engage the services of a legal luminary to prove the innocence of Itunu Babalola at the Court of Appeal after the accused had spent two years out of a ten-year jail term for an offence she did not commit.
“Reports indicate that the new Prosecutor assigned to the case has given assurances of a fair and unbiased review and retrial of the case to secure the release of Itunu Babalola.
“Reports also allegedly indicate that the former prosecutor in collaboration with the police twisted the case and accused Itunu Babalola of human trafficking hence her conviction for 20 years although the sentence was reduced to 10 years from which she has served two years.
“On efforts made to secure her bail, the prosecutor said it is only the Court that can grant her bail as she has already been convicted. We will continue to monitor the case as it unfolds.”
However, some months after, the young woman died after having contracted an infection in prison.
On Monday, Nigerians blasted the Commission, questioning what had been done in the past eight months.
Below are some of the reactions:
@abikedabiri Itunu is a lady like you. Innocent and undeserving of the kind of death she died. You failed her. Nigeria failed her like Nigeria has always failed her citizens. Hope you are proud of yourself. https://t.co/plUolvDias
— Igbokwe UO (@Bishopig) November 15, 2021
Itunu's ordeal & eventual death should provoke a serious discussion on d work & relevance of state officials saddled with d responsibility of looking out for Nigerians in her shoes. And to avoid reoccurrence.
— Olawale Oladejo (@Olawaleonline) November 15, 2021
But u lot would rather use her death for ethic & religious narrative https://t.co/iv5tTPLE4p
DG of NidCom..@abikedabiri
— Thomas NOT Sankara (@Isidore0001) November 15, 2021
Minister of Foreign Affairs..Geoffrey Onyema.
Ambassador of Nigeria to Ivory Coast.
And Ultimately, President Muhammadu Buhari, all failed Itunu.
Citizens, especially when they aren't privileged don't matter to our leaders. They don't care.
RIP Itunu.
With over 200m compatriots, a nation who prides itself as giant of Africa.
— Eyen Akwa Ibom (@idyudofia10) November 15, 2021
Yet we let Itunu die alone and lonely in a far away land. Her only crime? Being a Nigerian. She died hoping we will come for her. And we disappointed her. This is a huge shame to Nigeria as a nation.
So Itunu Babalola who was wrongly incarcerated in CIV on charges of human trafficking has died in prison?
— Mazi @FestusGreen (@FestusGreen) November 15, 2021
If Itunu was a VIP child, Abike Dabiri wouldn't send a 'team', she would've gone to Abidjan by foot, if need be.
She had a Gov, Senator, Rep, Chairman? They all failed her.
When drugs were found on a rich man's daughter in Saudi last year, you swung into action, secured her release, and escorted the girl back to 🇳🇬 on a first class flight.
— ð“žð“µð“ªð“¶ð“²ð“ð“® ð“žð“«ð“® (@olajideobe) November 15, 2021
When it got to ÃÂŒtùnú's turn, you delegated "our mission" bcoz she is child of nobody. Now that she is dead. SMH
The news about the unjust incarceration of Itunu has been on since Sept. 2019, little or nothing was done to help her, it was just a press release and blabbing from Abike Dabiri and her agency.
— #EkstasyMedia (@Ayoappeal) November 15, 2021
Everybody will go to work today like nothing happened, no one is taking responsibility
The House of Assembly should be inviting the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama to explain his ministry ignoring a viral story of Itunu and a her wrongful arrest outside the shores of Nigeria.
— Raymond (@IamTheIroko) November 15, 2021
But that would asking for too much from rubber stamp.
Onyeama and Bubu will not stay in one place, their own definition of Foreign affairs/diplomacy is globetrotting. Premium should be placed on right to life anywhere, anytime and at any place. So sad to hear about the demise of the Itunu lady.
— Erinfolami (@tunmishe_) November 15, 2021
Itunu is dead???
— West Ham Principal âš½ â¤ï¸Â💙 (@BarcaPrincipal) November 15, 2021
Nigeria 🇳🇬 failed her despite the comprehensive investigative reportage by David.
The FG should take thus case up against the Ivorian govt and give it all it takes to bring the culprits to book.
Investigative journalist, David Hundeyin confirmed the death of the young lady on Sunday night in a thread on his Twitter page.
According to him, the young lady contracted an infection in prison which led to her death on Sunday night. Videos attached to the thread showed Babalola writhing in pain on the hospital bed after which she gave up the ghost.
In a series of tweets, David Hundeyin wrote: “I have just received a message from Cote d'Ivoire about Itunu Babalola. She is still in prison in Abidjan where she has contracted a serious infection and apparently she is dying. All those promises by NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri, OYSG (Oyo State Government) etc - audio.
“She's finally dying. She’s finally dying. Well done to the Nigerian government. Well done to NIDCOM (Nigerians in Diaspora Commission) and everyone responsible for this, another young Nigerian is biting the dust. Round of applause for all of you.
“Write a federal petition, do a thread with 15,000 retweets, Engage with government, do an investigative story. Even travelled illegally to Cote d’Ivoire in a canoe to gather facts.
“Nothing we have not done to try to save this girl’s life but we come from Nigeria. Eight months of effort, 8 months of 'Uncle David God bless you, eight months of hoping for Nigeria to prove me wrong FOR ONCE'.
“It’s all over Itunu is dead. She died this night, just confirmed.”
In March 15, globalvoice reported that Babalola, who was based in Bondoukou, Cote D’Ivoire was rotting in a detention camp for refusing to accept police “settlement” of N100,000 for the crime of burglary committed in her house.
The Ivorian police had allegedly threatened and resolved to deal with Itunu Babalola who reported the theft to them in October 2019, but the suspected burglar was said to be a top police officer’s close relative.
It was gathered that instead of charging the suspected burglar to court, the police perfected a plot to bribe Babalola to collect N100,000 for her stolen items, which she refused.
Gloabalvoice gathered that when the police authorities saw that she was adamant and insisting on getting justice, they prepared trumped-up charges against her and sent her to detention.
Hundeyin, who followed the case, stated that the woman had come to Nigeria to check on her sick mother in September 2019 when her house in Cote D'Ivoire was burgled.
Concerned Nigerians had called on the government to intervene in Babalola’s case and ensure her release from detention in the West African country.
