The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has demanded full autopsy and painstaking investigation into the circumstances that led to death of a Nigerian, Ms. Itunu Babalola, in Cote d’Ivoire.
A statement issued by NIDCOM spokesperson, Gabriel Odu, said Dabiri-Erewa made the demand when she visited the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Amb. Traore Kallilou in Abuja.
During the visit, the NIDCOM boss presented a protest letter to the Ambassador requesting a blow-by-blow account of the circumstances that culminated in Itunu Babalola’s death.
Hon Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians in the diaspora to always be good ambassadors of Nigeria by obeying the laws of their host countries. She also appealed to them to always use their real identity in whatever they do and register their presence in Nigerian Missions in their places of residence.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Amb. Traore Kallilou, pledged his country’s full cooperation in the matter. He assured that nothing would be swept under the carpet, rather the autopsy report would be strictly monitored and published without delay.
It would be recalled that Ms. Itunu Babalola’s house in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire was burgled and in her bid to get justice, she took the case to the police for proper investigation.
However, while filling the case, she used the name, Miss Becky Paul, instead of her real name to write her statement. And the case took a dramatic turn for the worse. It was turned against her as she was later accused of human trafficking.
The Nigerian Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire has assured that it was on top of the case and would do its best to ensure that justice is done to the deceased.
