Titilayo Akindele, a 52-year-old suspect arrested over alleged involvement in illicit drugs trade, has died after collapsing in a courtroom at the federal high court in Benin city, Edo state capital.
The charges against the suspect were filed by the Edo command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
On Tuesday, NDLEA operatives brought the woman to the court for arraignment.
But before her case was called for arraignment, she was said to have collapsed and died in the court.
In a report by Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) Television, the woman was arrested at his residence in Benin in January 2026 by NDLEA operatives.
Since January 2026, the NDLEA was said to have refused to arraign the suspect or release her despite falling sick in custody.
Speaking with EBS Television, Samuel Akinsola, the son of the deceased suspect, said the NDLEA operatives brought his mother to court on Monday but she was returned to custody because officers forgot to bring her medical report to court.
He said since on Monday, his mother had been complaining to the NDLEA operatives that she has “no strength anymore”.
He claimed that the NDLEA operatives forced his mother to court today.
Family members of the deceased were crying after she died in court.
NDLEA operatives stretched out the body and put it inside a hospital van.
NDLEA REACTS
In a statement, Mitchell Ofoyeju, commander of NDLEA in Edo, denied allegations that the deceased was not physically fit when she was brought into the court by the anti-drug officers.
Ofoyeju said the deceased walked to the courtroom from the car the NDLEA officials drove to the court.
“It is not true what they are saying. She was arraigned in court. There was no issue that she was not physically fit,” the NDLEA commander 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.
“She was arrested by the Edo State task force and transferred to the NDLEA. She was arrested for selling Loud (popularly known as cannabis)
“When she collapsed, it attracted 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.”
About the Author
