A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, collapsed and died in the holding area of the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, moments after a judge adjourned his case. The incident occurred in Court 11, where Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two co-defendants on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and the murder of three people in the Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area, in 2022.
Collapse After Adjournment
According to a report by Vanguard, Justice Amadise Michael Ekadi had just adjourned judgment in the matter to October 27, 2026, when Nwanlia suddenly clutched his chest and fell. Witnesses at the scene reported that officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, police personnel, and lawyers all attempted to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. A medical worker was later summoned to examine him, after which his body was taken to a hospital for formal confirmation of death.
The incident triggered panic and confusion among court staff, lawyers, security officers, and other people present on the premises. The sudden death of the suspect, who had been appearing in court for his trial, has raised questions about the health conditions of detainees in custody.
Judiciary Confirms Incident
The Bayelsa State Judiciary's Public Relations Officer, Mr Enoch Okunobo, confirmed the incident to reporters on Tuesday evening. He stated, "Somebody collapsed and died today. He was a murder suspect who had been coming to court. His corpse has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC)."
Reports indicated that Nwanlia had experienced health problems while in custody prior to Tuesday's incident. The cause of his death had not been officially established as of the time the report was filed.
Police Unaware of Incident
When contacted by reporters, the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said he had no knowledge of the incident but promised to look into the matter and follow up. He had not done so before the report was filed.
The allegations against Nwanlia and his two co-defendants were never determined by the court before his death. The case has been adjourned to October 27, 2026, but the court will now have to address the implications of the suspect's death on the proceedings.
In a related incident, a witness at the Ondo State High Court session in Oka, Ondo, also lost his life after collapsing while trying to testify in a case involving his friend. The elderly man hit his head on the tiles after standing up from his seat, leading to his death.
