- Safiu Kehinde
Panic has on Tuesday erupted at the Federal High Court in Benin city as 52-year-old woman arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Titilayo Akindele, tragically died during the hearing of her case.
The late Akindele was reportedly arrested by the NDLEA in January over alleged sales of loud, a strain of cannabis in Benin, the Edo state’s capital.
Meanwhile, her family members disclosed that she had been complaining of ill health while in the NDLEA’s custody before her arraignment.
During the hearing of the case on Tuesday, Akindele informed the court and the agency of her poor health condition.
She pleaded to be taken to hospital with her family even offered money for medical care.
“Even three NDLEA officers testified that this woman is dying.” He said.
A relative of the late woman, Adebayo Bashiru, disclosed that NDLEA had earlier conducted a medical test on the woman but refused to present the result to the famiy.
“The woman dey cry dey complain. When dem see say this thing wan dey too much, they carried her go hospital by themselves.
“Dem say the following day, the report go come out. The following day when the report come out, dem no show anybody.” He said.
Recounting the moment she collapsed in the court, a lawyer and eyewitness, Barr, Leonrad Uwagie, disclosed how the lady was left unattended to after collapsing with the NDLEA official refusing to assist her.
“I walked down there and I saw a lifeless body. What I expected was people running around to see how they can save her. Nothing like that!
“The officers in whose custody the woman came from , the NDLEA, were not doing anything. So, we started putting pressure on them to see if we can get them to carry the woman.
“They refused. Rather, they just entered their vehicle and were running away.” He said.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA late sent ambulance to pick up the late woman.