Father Of Nigerian Lady Who Died In Ivorian Prison Rejects Autopsy Report, Petitions House Of Reps

The father of Itunu Babalola, who was wrongfully jailed and died in Cote d’Ivoire, Emmanuel, has rejected the report of the autopsy carried out on the body of his 24-year-old daughter.

The distraught man said this while speaking with THE WHISTLER on Wednesday.

He said the autopsy report was written in French and he got somebody who interpreted some aspects of it to him but he expressed his dissatisfaction with the result of the post mortem test.

He said, ” I told Honourable Abike Dabiri that I am not satisfied with their autopsy report. I told Honourable ( Tolulope) Sadipe when she came to pay us condolence visit also.

“My daughter was framed up and was wrongfully jailed. It is painful that they framed her up after breaking into her apartment and stealing her goods. But it is more painful that she died when she was about to be freed.

“I don’t believe that she died of natural cause and that was why I have written a petition to the House of Representatives. The petition should get to them before the end of this week.”

The deceased father hailed Nigerians in Diaspora Commission led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their efforts to get justice for his daughter.

In the petition written to the House of Representatives, Babalola called on the Federal Government to ensure that his daughter’s name was cleared of the allegation and to make sure that those who framed her up and those responsible for her death were brought to justice.

The petition read in part, ” While in prison, my daughter complained of poor treatment while she was in the custody of the Ivorian Government. She was poorly looked after and suffered from health complications. Her health deteriorated so bad that she had to be admitted to military hospital. She unfortunately died under mysterious circumstances, days after she was admitted to the hospital.

“While there, I was in regular communication with my daughter where she would be crying for help and accused the Ivorian of planning to terminate her life even in prison.

“She told me how they took her to hinterland prison from the Cote d’Ivoire Capital Abidjan, a journey of about five hours, and imprisoned her there in order to discourage those championing the case as well as frustrating the cause of justice.

“Even though an autopsy had been carried out on her body in Cote d’Ivoire but the result is not acceptable to me. I still spoke with my daughter some five days before her death and there was nothing to suggest that she was sick as our communication mostly are through video calls.

“As an aggrieved father, I am calling on the Federal Government once again, through the instrumentality of the legislative process of the House, to look into the matter of the sudden and mysterious death of my daughter, Itunnu Babalola, my only girl, to ensure that she gets the due justice she deserves.

“I also want an inquest on her body to find out the cause of her sudden death.

“I also want her name to be cleared of the wrongful allegations levelled against her to be quashed.

” I equally want all those responsible for her incarceration which led to her painful death to be investigated and if found guilty to face the wrath of the law.

” Itunu was the breadwinner of the family and now she is no more, hence I will appeal for necessary support for the family.”

The lady died on November 24 and was buried on December 4.