Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (APC- Oluyole) has vowed to work toward unravelling the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian lady recently in Cote d’Ivoire Prison.
Akande-Sadipe, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, made this assertions in a statement signed by her Media Aide, Olamilekan Olusada, on Saturday in Ibadan.
She had paid a condolence visit to the parents of the deceased in Ibadan.
Phenomenal reports that the late Babalola, popularly known as ‘Becky Paul’ was reported to have been sentenced for an offence she didn’t commit and died in Cote d’Ivoire prison.
Akande-Sadipe said that all necessary actions needed to unravel the mystery behind the late Itunu’s death would be encouraged.
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The House chairman said that such might include a thorough coroners’ inquest to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Akande-Sadipe said the Ivorien Ambassador to Nigeria should ensure that the wrongful incarceration, which led to the death of a Nigerian citizen, was thoroughly investigated urgently.
She reiterated that the House of Representatives was always committed to the safety of Nigerians in the Diaspora and would not rest until it gets justice for the late Babalola, even in death.
Akande-Sadipe said the committee on Diaspora was not satisfied with the result of the autopsy carried out in Cote d’Ivoire, adding that a thorough investigation on the matter must still be carried out.
The lawmaker appealed to the Federal Government not to let Babalola’s death be swept under the carpet.
“Itunu will be vindicated and her name will be cleared. It is not going to stop here, I promise,” she said.
Commenting, Mr Emmanuel Babalola, father of the deceased, who went into tears, said the family were demanding for a thorough investigation into the cause of their daughter’s death.
Babalola said that the cause of her death could be established through an independent toxicologist, and thanked the lawmaker for her kind gesture.
He alleged that his daughter was victimised while in the prison, appealing to the Federal Government to wade into the matter urgently
