The scene at the court premises
It was a tale of the unexpected at a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State on Tuesday following the sudden death of a 52-year-old woman, identified as Titilayo, who collapsed a few minutes after she was arraigned for drug offence causing panic in the court.
Late Titilayo, wo was arrested by an Edo State Task Force for allegedly dealing in an illicit substance identified as ‘Loud’, was handed over to the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The deceased suspect was said to have been in the custody of the NDLEA for about three months before she was charged to the court on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses claimed that she had been experiencing health challenges while in the NDLEA custody with little or no medical attention.
One of such witnesses, who was in the court for another matter when the tragic incident occurred, said when she noticed the suspect’s condition, she called the attention of one of the anti-narcotics agency’s personnel to it, but he was allegedly nonchalant.
The witness, who pleaded anonymity, added that when the deceased collapsed, the NDLEA operative still paid no attention as he believed that she was feigning illness.
According to her, “Even when her matter was called and she did not respond, the NDLEA officer was still saying that the woman (deceased) was pretending.
“By the time the NDLEA officer made an effort to lift her up, she was already cold, completely dead. The woman’s son went berserk when he discovered that his mother was dead”.
The NDLEA would however not take the blame. Denying the allegation of negligence, the Edo Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, Ofoyeju insisted there was nothing to suggest that the late Titilayo was not physically fit to stand trial when she was being taken to the court.
According to the NDLEA boss, “It is not true what they are saying. She was arraigned in court (sic). There was no issue that she was not physically fit. She personally walked to the car, got to the court and came down herself. What happened is not something you can start trading blame.
“She was arrested by the Edo State task force and transferred to the NDLEA. She was arrested for selling ‘Loud’.
“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 their dispersion with the crowd. The crowd thought my men were running away. My men were not attacked”.