Murder suspect collapses and dies in court

A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, collapsed and died on Tuesday at the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.

Nwanlia was waiting for a verdict in a case that included conspiracy, kidnapping, and the alleged murder of three people in Kalaba community in Bayelsa.

He was on trial with 32-year-old Gideon Atama and Clever Ovo for the alleged murders in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The victims were Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, who was an in-law to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Paramount Ruler Kolibo Francis Amabelimo, and Samuel Oburo.

The police arrested the suspects in 2022 during an operation known as Police Operation Puff Adder, now called the Violent Crime Response Unit.

Chris Nwaogbo, a chief superintendent of police, led the operation.

Nwanlia had health issues, including hypertension and stroke, while he was held at the Osaka Medium Correctional Centre in Yenagoa.

He collapsed soon after the court postponed the judgement in his case to 27 October 2026 because the judge was not available.

Nwanlia fell down in Court 11, where Justice Amadise Ekadi was presiding.

A court registry official who saw what happened told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nwanlia suddenly grabbed his chest and lost consciousness.

"As soon as the adjournment was announced, one of the suspects clutched his chest, slumped, and died," the source said.

NAN learned that people nearby tried to revive him but could not.

Officers from the correctional centre, police officers, and lawyers were shocked by what happened, and medical personnel were called to check his condition.

Nwanlia was later taken to a hospital for further examination and confirmation of his death.