A 52-year-old woman, identified simply as Titilayo, collapsed and died on Tuesday shortly after she was arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, throwing the courtroom into confusion and sparking controversy over her handling by law enforcement operatives.
The deceased, who was earlier arrested by the Edo State Task Force, had been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution over allegations of selling a substance suspected to be a hard drug.
Eyewitnesses claimed the woman appeared visibly unwell before and during her appearance in court, alleging that her condition was ignored prior to her arraignment.
She was said to have slumped moments after the proceedings, drawing a crowd and causing panic within the court premises.
While some observers blamed alleged negligence by NDLEA operatives for failing to ensure she was medically fit before bringing her to court, the agency has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the deceased showed no sign of ill health prior to her collapse.
He said the suspect walked into the court without assistance and that there was nothing to suggest she was unfit to stand trial.
“It is not true what they are saying. She was arraigned in court. There was no issue that she was not physically fit. She personally walked to the car, got to the court and came down herself,” Ofoyeju said.
He added that the suspect had been arrested for allegedly selling “Loud,” a street term for a potent strain of cannabis.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the NDLEA commander said, “What happened was a mistaken identity. When she collapsed, it attracted a crowd and there were other suspects.
The officers had to secure other accused persons to avoid them dispersing with the crowd.
“My men were not attacked. This is unfortunate. Our desire is for any drug suspect or accused person to be well, healthy and complete their trials.
“Honestly, we have no idea what killed her unless an autopsy is conducted.”
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the handling of suspects in custody and during prosecution, particularly regarding their health and safety while in the custody of security agencies.
Authorities are yet to release official details on the cause of death, as investigations are expected to commence.
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