A 52-year-old woman standing trial over alleged drug offences has collapsed and died at the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, sparking confusion and allegations of negligence.
The deceased, Mrs Titilayo Akindele, was being prosecuted by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) when the incident occurred on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
According to reports, proceedings were ongoing when Akindele suddenly slumped while waiting for her case to be called.
The unexpected development threw the courtroom into chaos, as family members, lawyers and other court users screamed and rushed in panic.
Mrs Akindele had been arrested in January 2026 by operatives of the NDLEA in Edo State, allegedly with the assistance of a church member identified simply as IK.
She was accused of being in possession of “Loud,” described by authorities as an illicit hard drug.
The agency subsequently filed charges against her before the Federal High Court in Benin City.
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Speaking amid tears, her son, Samuel Akinsola, alleged that his mother had repeatedly complained of deteriorating health during her detention and court appearances.
He claimed the family had consistently appealed to the NDLEA to either grant her bail or expedite her arraignment in court.
According to him, when she was brought to court on Monday, March 30, 2026, officials allegedly failed to present medical reports concerning her condition. The court, he said, adjourned the matter to Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
He alleged that while waiting for the case to be called on the adjourned date, she collapsed and later died.
Lawyers and eyewitnesses at the court also confirmed that the woman slumped during the sitting.
Some of them accused NDLEA officers of failing to render immediate medical assistance and attempting to leave her in the courtroom.
Following the incident, operatives of the Edo State Police Command and NDLEA officers reportedly secured the premises before an ambulance from Edo Central Hospital arrived to evacuate the body to a mortuary.
Reacting to the incident, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, described the development as unfortunate but denied allegations of negligence by his officers.
“It is not true what they are saying. She was arraigned in court. There was no issue that she was not physically fit,” Ofoyeju said.
“She personally walked to the car, got to the court and came down herself. What happened is not something you can start trading blame for.”
He further explained that the deceased was initially arrested by the Edo State task force before being transferred to the NDLEA over alleged involvement in the sale of “Loud.”
Ofoyeju also dismissed claims that officers abandoned the deceased or refused to assist her when she collapsed.
“When she collapsed, it attracted a crowd and there were other suspects. The officers had to secure other accused persons to avoid them mixing with the crowd to escape.
“The mandate of the NDLEA is to protect lives from the dangers of illicit drugs. This is unfortunate. My condolences to the family. Our desire is for any drug suspect or accused to be well, healthy and complete their trials,” he added.
As of press time, further details regarding the cause of death were yet to be officially disclosed.