A 52-year-old woman, Titilayo Akindele, who was facing charges over alleged involvement in illicit drug trade, has died after collapsing at the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State.
The deceased had been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and was brought to court on Tuesday for arraignment. However, before her case could be called, she reportedly collapsed in the courtroom and was later confirmed dead.
According to a report by Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) Television, Akindele was initially arrested in January 2026 at her residence in Benin City. Her family alleged that despite her deteriorating health in custody, the NDLEA neither arraigned her promptly nor granted her release.
Speaking to EBS, her son, Samuel Akinsola, claimed that the agency had earlier taken his mother to court on Monday but returned her to custody after failing to present her medical report. He further alleged that she had repeatedly complained of weakness and poor health.
“Since Monday, my mother had been telling the officers that she had no strength anymore, but they still forced her to court,” he said.
Family members were seen in distress following her collapse, while NDLEA operatives reportedly moved her body into a hospital van after the incident.
However, the NDLEA Edo State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied claims that the deceased was unfit to appear in court. He maintained that Akindele showed no visible signs of illness prior to the incident.
“It is not true what they are saying. She walked to the courtroom herself. There was no issue that she was not physically fit,” Ofoyeju stated.
He explained that the suspect had been initially arrested by the Edo State task force before being transferred to the NDLEA for alleged involvement in the sale of “loud,” a street term for a strong variant of cannabis.
Ofoyeju added that the situation caused a brief commotion in the courtroom, as officers had to secure other suspects amid the gathering crowd.
The incident has raised concerns over the treatment of detainees and the handling of suspects with health challenges while in custody
