Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian lady who was wrongfully incarcerated in Cote D’lvoire, has reportedly died after contracting a serious infection in prison.
Freelance Investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, who brought her case to light back in 2020, confirmed her death on Sunday night in a thread on his Twitter page.
In a series of tweets, David Hundeyin first announced that she was in a critical health condition, saying;
I 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.
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 etc – audio.
She’s finally dying. https://t.co/OZ6wSzFpeK pic.twitter.com/dGPok2AxJ9
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
He stressed;
I think now that she’s finally going to die, Nigeria can rest.@cbngov_akin1, @abikedabiri thank you and God bless all of you with your “help” that has taken 8 months and achieved nothing.
Itunu is going home to rest at last. Freedom from this useless continent.
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
Hundeyin added;
The Giant of Africa does it again.
Good People, Great Nation! pic.twitter.com/bAAY77IS2m
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
The investigative journalist stressed;
“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 fucking canoe to gather facts.
Write a federal petition. Do a thread with 15,000 retweets. Engage with government. Do a whole investigative story. Even travel illegally to Cote d’Ivoire in a fucking canoe to gather facts.
Nothing we have not done to try to save this girl’s life.
But we come from Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/g7hkgdGci5
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
Shortly after, David Hundeyin announced Itunu’s death, saying;
It’s all over.
I’m in pain pic.twitter.com/cnummvo9eX
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
He added;
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.”
8 months of effort. 8 months of “Uncle David God bless you.” 8 months of hoping for Nigeria to prove me wrong FOR ONCE… pic.twitter.com/hfNaeiT2r1
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) November 14, 2021
MDB recalls that NIDCOM had promised to do everything to secure Itunu’s release after the case was brought to their attention.
Gabriel Odu, the commission’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit officer, in Abuja, had mentioned that the Nigeria Mission in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire confirmed that Babalola was wrongfully charged and incarcerated for a crime she didn’t commit following series of investigations.
Also, the Charge D’Affaires of Nigerian Mission in Côte D’Ivoire, Mr Mohammed Gana, disclosed that plans were underway to engage the services of a lawyer, to prove the innocence of Babalola at the Court of Appeal.
Babalola got entangled in a legal battle, when she reported the burglary of her house to the Ivorian police.
According to him;
Investigations carried out also indicated that the former prosecutor, in collaboration with the police, twisted her case and accused Babalola of human trafficking which led to her conviction for 20 years even though the sentence was reduced to 10 years from which she has served two years so far.
May her soul rest in peace.
