Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has been caught on camera signalling to a radio anchor person not to take a question from a journalist, David Hundeyin, who wanted to ask a question on the death of Itunu Babalola, a Nigerian lady that died in prison in Cote d’Ivoire.
A Cote d’Ivoire-based Nigerian trader, Babalola, who was wrongly accused of human trafficking, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment which was later reduced to 10 years, died in the prison on November 15, 2021.
After Bablola’s death, many condemnations and criticisms greeted the NIDCOM CEO for not taking drastic steps that could have prevented the 26-year-old businesswoman in an Ivorian prison.
In a recent video, Dabiri-Erewa appeared to be dodging some questions concerning Babalola’s death on a live radio programme on Lagos Talks 91.3FM where she was a guest, according to SaharaReporters.
Dabiri-Erewa was seen using both her head and her hand to nod in disagreement or refusal from taking a question from an investigative journalist, David Hundeyin, who first broke the news of Babalola’s predicament in Ivory Coast in March 2021.
David Hundeyin, an investigative journalist, was said to be the person who broke the news in March and posted Babalola’s story on Twitter.
The post went viral and eventually gained the attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO of NIDCOM, in a statement, had confirmed the report at the time, saying the commission was doing all it can to secure the release of Babalola.
In the video, however, the presenter had earlier said, “You know, he’s been very passionate about Itunu’s death. Unfortunately, but err… I can’t hear him right now. To be very honest, I’m trying to see if you want to ask any question.”
The NIDCOM chairman was shaking her head vigorously and at the same time gesticulating with her hand to tell the lady presenter that she would not entertain Hundeyin’s question.
Hundeyin in the video had said: “Good evening, my name is David Hundeyin, and I’m actually a journalist who broke the news about Itunu Babalola in March, Now. I have a very…”
Video: Lagos Talks 91.3FM, Youtube