A 52-year-old Ondo State woman, Titilayo Funke Akindele, allegedly died inside the Edo State High Court after officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reportedly ignored pleas to release her for urgent medical attention, her son, Samuel Akindele, has alleged.
Samuel, who spoke in an emotional interview, said his mother’s death followed weeks of alleged detention, failed bail negotiations, and what he described as a disregard for her deteriorating health condition.
According to him, the incident has left the family devastated and seeking justice, while raising fresh concerns about the treatment of suspects in custody.
Samuel narrated that his mother was arrested in January over allegations of possession of cannabis, a situation he said was linked to her struggles to survive after the death of his father in 2017.
He said the family was not financially stable and could not meet the escalating bail demands allegedly made by NDLEA officials.
“We offered N500,000, but they said it was not enough. They later demanded N2m. Initially, they had asked for N5m before reducing it to N3m,” he said.
Samuel claimed his mother repeatedly complained of ill health while in custody, but was not given adequate care.
According to him, although she was eventually taken for a medical check-up, the report was never disclosed to the family.
The deceased’s son further alleged that his mother’s condition worsened significantly before she was brought to court.
“She told them she wasn’t feeling well and was not fit to appear in court, but they forced her into their van,” he said.
He added that he personally pleaded with NDLEA officers to allow her remain behind for treatment, but his pleas were ignored.
In what he described as a painful moment, Samuel said his mother collapsed inside the courtroom and later died there.
He alleged that even after her death, some NDLEA officials attempted to dismiss the severity of the situation.
“They accused her of pretending, even when she had been dead for over an hour,” he claimed.
Court in shock as proceedings abruptly end
Samuel recounted that the courtroom descended into confusion after his mother collapsed.
According to him, the judge immediately halted proceedings as the gravity of the situation became apparent, leading to an abrupt evacuation of the courtroom.
He described the scene as traumatic, saying the family has been left with unanswered questions about what transpired before and during the incident.
‘They refused to release her for treatment’
The grieving son also alleged that NDLEA officials resisted calls to release his mother for urgent medical care, despite visible signs of her worsening condition.
He claimed that even a female officer who witnessed her deteriorating state failed to intervene effectively.
“A female NDLEA officer stood by while my mother died and did nothing,” he alleged.
He further claimed that his mother was held for about three months before being brought to court.
Samuel said the family has already written a petition through their lawyer, but no meaningful response has been received so far.
“We are calling on the government to ensure justice. We are not criminals, and we need answers,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the incident could erode public trust in law enforcement agencies.
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Describing the impact of his mother’s death, Samuel said the loss has compounded the family’s hardship, especially as they had already lost their father years earlier.
“These people have destroyed my life. Life has never been easy,” he lamented.
He noted that his mother had been the family’s primary caregiver, leaving behind a young child and other dependents.
Calls for accountability
The case has sparked renewed concerns about the welfare of detainees and the handling of suspects by law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
Human rights observers have consistently warned that failure to provide timely medical care to persons in custody may constitute a violation of fundamental rights.
As of the time of filing this report, NDLEA had not publicly responded to the allegations.
Editor’s Note
This report is based on allegations made by the deceased’s son, Samuel Akindele. The NDLEA has not responded to the claims at the time of publication.
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