Woman dies in court after 3 months in NDLEA custody

A woman collapsed and died at the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday while she was being arraigned in court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to reports, he was brought to court on Tuesday, three months after his arrest, and has been in the agency’s custody for three months without charges.

He was arrested on Ewosan road, Owidan area, Benin City, Edo State in January 2026, and has been detained since then.

He suddenly fell ill while in detention, after he persistently asked for medical treatment but was refused.

On Tuesday at the federal high court, Benin, while waiting for his turn on the arraignment list, he suddenly collapsed and died.

The incident caused chaos in court as many lawyers present berated the NDLEA for its treatment of the woman, which led to her death.

They condemned the ill-treatment meted out by Nigerian security agencies to most of the suspects.

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They regret that accused persons are entitled to bail, or arraignment in court early enough to determine their guilt or innocence of the alleged crimes.

One of the lawyers, Douglas Ugbankwa said, “This is completely unacceptable. This should be a lesson, and should change the way the NDLEA works across the country.

“They detained people for two months, three months, and when they brought them to court, some of them almost disappeared.
“We need to give a warning to General Buba Marwa that he needs to call his men to give orders.”

The son of the deceased, Samuel Akinsola, who was at the court at that time, sobbed as he watched his mother die.

He said they had been pleading with the NDLEA since January to grant his mother bail, or charge her in court.

“They took him to court today, and refused to bring the doctor’s report. Since yesterday he has been complaining, he has no energy.

They took him to court yesterday. And the case was postponed until today. And they forced him onto the bus and took him to court today like that. That’s how he died today!”, he complained while crying.

NDLEA officers left the high court building after the chaos broke out, and ambulances and health workers were called to evacuate the body.