A 52-year-old woman, identified simply as Titilayo, on Tuesday slumped and died shortly after being arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State.
The deceased was reportedly apprehended by the Edo State Task Force before being transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution.
She was said to have been arrested over allegations of peddling a substance suspected to be a hard drug.
Eyewitnesses at the court premises faulted the NDLEA, alleging that the woman appeared unwell prior to her arraignment and accusing the agency of negligence.
However, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, dismissed the allegations, insisting that there was no indication the suspect was unfit to stand trial.
According to him, the deceased walked into the courtroom without assistance and showed no visible signs of ill health before the incident.
“It is not correct to suggest she was unfit. She arrived at the court, alighted from the vehicle herself and walked in without any difficulty,” he said.
Ofoyeju explained that the suspect had been arrested for allegedly selling ‘Loud’, a street term for a potent strain of cannabis, and was handed over to the NDLEA by the task force.
He added that confusion ensued after the woman collapsed, as officers had to ensure that other suspects in custody did not escape amid the gathering crowd.
“The situation attracted attention, and while our officers were trying to secure other suspects, some members of the public misinterpreted their actions,” he said.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the NDLEA boss extended condolences to the family of the deceased, noting that the actual cause of death could only be determined through an autopsy.
“Our priority is to ensure that suspects remain in good health to face trial. At this point, we cannot ascertain the cause of her death without a medical examination,” he added.