*Agency Denies Negligence
A suspected female drug peddler, Mrs. Titilayo Akindele, 52, has died after collapsing at the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday, triggering outrage among her family members, lawyers, and other court attendees.
Mrs. Akindele, who was being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged drug peddling, had been in the custody of the anti-drug agency for close to three months before she was brought to court for arraignment.
The deceased woman was first arraigned on Monday but trial did not proceed after she complained of ill-health.
Sources said the defendant was consequently asked to present a medical report to prove her ill-health but could not do so.
She was then re-arraigned on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Some lawyers who witnessed the incident said the court proceedings continued despite the woman’s critical condition, including being unable to sit or stand.
One of the lawyers, who did not identify himself, claimed that Mrs. Akindele had been battling ill-health while in NDLEA custody, with little or no medical attention.
He stated that moments after her case was mentioned, she suddenly slumped, causing panic among lawyers, court staff, and other litigants present.
According to him, efforts were made to revive her, but she was later confirmed dead.
Another lawyer, who was in court for another matter, said when she drew the attention of one of the anti-drug agency personnel to the deceased’s condition in the court, the unnamed officer was nonchalant.
The female lawyer, who also did not identify herself, added that when the deceased collapsed, the NDLEA operative paid no attention because he believed that the deceased was faking the illness.
“Even when her matter was called and she did not respond, the NDLEA officer was still saying that the woman was pretending,” the lawyer said.
Legal practitioner Leonard Osa Uwagie, who witnessed the incident, said the woman collapsed during the court sitting.
Legal practitioner Leonard Osa Uwagie, who witnessed the incident, said the woman collapsed during the court sitting.
Uwagie alleged that NDLEA officers failed to render immediate assistance and attempted to leave the scene.
Mrs. Akindele was said to have been arrested at her residence on Ewosa Street in the Ogida area of Benin City on January 3, 2026, during a crackdown by Edo State Task Force over alleged involvement in drug trafficking. She was subsequently handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution.
Her son, Samuel Akindele, said she had been in NDLEA detention for about three months and had repeatedly complained about her deteriorating health.
“She has been complaining about her health. Yesterday, she said she was not feeling fine and had been losing her strength,” he said, alleging that requests for medical attention were ignored.
However, the Commander of the NDLEA in Edo State, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied the allegations of negligence on the part of the anti-drug agency as the cause of the death.