Son seeks justice as mother dies in court over NDLEA handling

A 52-year-old Ondo State woman, Titilayo Funke Akindele, has reportedly died inside the Edo State High Court after officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ignored pleas to release her for urgent medical treatment, her son, Samuel Akindele, has said.

Samuel, who spoke in an emotional interview, said his mother’s death came after weeks of alleged detention, failed bail negotiations and what he described as a disregard for her worsening health.

According to him, the incident has left the family devastated and calling for justice, while raising new concerns about the treatment of suspects in custody.

Samuel said his mother was arrested in January on suspicion of cannabis possession, a situation he said was linked to her struggle to survive following her father’s death in 2017.

He said the family was not financially stable and could not meet the mounting bail demands allegedly made by NDLEA officials.

“We offered N500,000 but they said it was not enough. They later asked for N2 million. Initially, they asked for N5 million before reducing it to N3 million,” he said.

Samuel said his mother repeatedly complained of health problems while in custody, but did not receive adequate care.

According to him, although she was eventually taken for a medical check-up, the report was never disclosed to the family.

The deceased’s son further claimed that his mother’s condition had deteriorated significantly before she was brought to court.

“She told them she wasn’t feeling well and was unfit to appear in court, but they forced her into their van,” he said.

She added that she personally pleaded with NDLEA officers to allow her to stay for treatment, but her pleas were ignored.

In what he described as a painful moment, Samuel said his mother collapsed inside the courtroom and later died there.

He said that even after his death, some NDLEA officials attempted to downplay the seriousness of the situation.

“They accused her of faking it, even when she had been dead for more than an hour,” he said.
Court in shock at sudden end of proceedings
Samuel said the courtroom was plunged into confusion after his mother collapsed.

According to him, the judge immediately stopped the proceedings as soon as the gravity of the situation became apparent, leading to an abrupt evacuation of the courtroom.

He described the scene as traumatic, saying the family was left with unanswered questions about what happened before and during the incident.

“They refused to release her for treatment”
The grieving son also said NDLEA officials have resisted calls to release his mother for urgent medical treatment, despite visible signs of her worsening.

He said even a female officer who witnessed his condition deteriorating failed to intervene effectively.

“An NDLEA officer stood by while my mother died and did nothing,” she said.

He further said that his mother was held for about three months before being taken to court.

Samuel said the family has already written a petition through their lawyer, but so far no significant response has been received.

“We ask the government to ensure justice. We are not criminals and we need answers,” he said.

He warned that failure to resolve the incident could erode public trust in law enforcement.
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Describing the impact of his mother’s death, Samuel said the loss compounded the family’s difficulties, especially as they had already lost their father years earlier.

“These people have destroyed my life. Life has never been easy,” he lamented.

He noted that his mother had been the family’s primary caregiver, leaving behind a young child and other dependents.
It requires responsibility

The case has sparked renewed concerns about the welfare of detainees and the handling of suspects by law enforcement in Nigeria.

Human rights observers have consistently warned that failure to provide timely medical care to detained persons may constitute a violation of fundamental rights.

At the time of filing this report, the NDLEA had not responded publicly to the allegations.
Editor’s note

This report is based on allegations made by the son of the deceased, Samuel Akindele. The NDLEA did not respond to the claims at the time of publication.

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