A 52-year-old woman, identified as Titilayo, reportedly collapsed and died shortly after being arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
She was said to have been arrested by the Edo State Task Force and later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution over allegations of selling a substance suspected to be a hard drug.
According to witnesses, the woman appeared unwell when she was brought to court, and they accused the NDLEA of negligence for proceeding with her arraignment despite her condition.
However, the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, dismissed the claims, stating there was no indication that she was unfit to stand trial. He explained that she walked on her own to and from the vehicle and into the courtroom.
Ofoyeju added that she had been arrested for allegedly selling “Loud,” a slang term for a strong strain of cannabis. He also addressed confusion at the scene, noting that when she collapsed, officers focused on securing other suspects to prevent them from dispersing, which may have been misinterpreted by onlookers.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, he extended condolences to her family and emphasized that the agency wants suspects to remain healthy and face due process. He added that the exact cause of her death remains unknown pending an autopsy.
