The Federal Government and the family of the late Itunu Babalola, the Nigerian lady who died in Côte d’Ivoire after she was wrongly jailed have rejected the autopsy on the cause of her death.
Also it was reported on Tuesday, that some lawyers volunteered to take up the matter with the Cote d’ Ivoire government at the ECOWAS Court.
The father of the deceased, Emmanuel Babalola on Tuesday spoke with newsmen during a meeting with the Chairperson of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri -Erewa.
Dabiri Erewa also said that the Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected the autopsy report, which she described as “unacceptable”.
Also, she noted that the police officer in the case had been reported to Interpol, saying; “We are not going to relent. That police officer must be questioned.”
While expressing NiDCOM’s deepest condolences to Babalola’s family, she said that though she (Dabiri-Erewa) was not a doctor, the autopsy left so many questions unanswered.
“I am not a doctor but when I looked at the autopsy report itself, “Sepsis Complicated by Acute Respiratory Distress“, that is not acceptable even to me without being a doctor and I don’t think that should be acceptable.
“I believe that Nigeria should not just let this matter go just like that. We need to demand justice. How come she just died after everything has been done for her release?” she asked.
“Even the lawyer said that the girl was not guilty of the crime she was accused of. This autopsy, even to me does not appear acceptable. So, I hope that we would not let the case go like that,” Dabiri-Erewa added.
“I am sure the Minister of Foreign Affairs will take the next necessary steps to demand from Cote d’Ivoire a lot more information than they have given about what happened to Itunu’s case.”
According to her, there is the need for African countries to treat one another with respect, decency and dignity.
“Again, it is a tough one, it is a tragic one. It should not have happened. If we let this go just like that, others will go just like that.
“How could this have even happened in another West African country? We will do all we can. Now that the autopsy report is out, there are more questions to ask. How was Itunu treated in prison? How come she just died like that when the next thing was for her to be released,” she asked.
Emmanuel Babalola while speaking with newsmen, said that he was convinced his daughter was killed and he passionately called on Nigerians to ensure that justice is served.
He said, “I am not satisfied with the cause of death of my daughter. The autopsy was read but I am not satisfied with it. When the Ivorian government took Itunu to hospital, she was bleeding, blood coming out of her mouth and nose, and I did not know what really happened until I heard suddenly that my daughter is dead.
“This has put me in sadness since then. I want the case to continue. I reject the autopsy.
“I want to know the cause of her death. I want the Nigerian government to please help me and investigate further what led to her death,” the father who wept profusely said.
However, Babalola commended the Federal Government’s efforts to get his late daughter released from the prison before she died as well as getting the corpse released.