Family Accuses NDLEA of Detaining Suspects Without Trial or Medical Care in Edo
Relatives of suspected drug traffickers detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State have made serious allegations, claiming the suspects were held for months without trial or access to medical attention. This accusation comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a 52-year-old suspect, Titilayo Akinsola, died during her arraignment at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
Details of the Allegations
The deceased, Titilayo Akinsola, was arrested at her residence in Ogida Quarters in January 2026. According to her son, Samuel Akinsola, she had been in detention for three months without being formally charged or receiving any medical care. He expressed frustration that repeated pleas to NDLEA officials for bail or a prompt arraignment were ignored.
"They brought her to court on Monday, but she was very weak, so they postponed it till Tuesday," Samuel stated. "Meanwhile, the woman had been complaining that she did not have strength anymore. No medical attention was given to her before she died."
Lawyers Condemn NDLEA Practices
Lawyers present at the court described the woman's appearance as visibly frail, noting that even when she collapsed, NDLEA officials did not allow immediate medical intervention. Douglas Ogbankwa, one of the lawyers, criticized the agency's handling of the situation.
"This is very unacceptable," Ogbankwa said. "Look at this woman that died. I think we should change the way things are done in NDLEA throughout the country. They detain suspects for two, three months without arraignment, and when taken to court, most of them are already gone. We sound the warning to Maj-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd) that he should call his men to order."
Another lawyer, Osa Uwadia, added, "We were all here when the suspect collapsed, and what they were supposed to do was to take her to the hospital for medical attention, but the officers refused. When she came, I saw her there, she couldn't even walk."
NDLEA Commander Denies Negligence
In response, the Edo State Commander of NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied any negligence on the part of his officers. He asserted that there was no indication the deceased was unfit for trial.
"There was no issue that she was not physically fit when she was arraigned," Ofoyeju explained. "She personally walked to the car, got to the court, and came down herself. What happened is not something you can start trading blame. When she collapsed, it attracted a crowd, and there were other suspects. The officers had to secure other accused persons to avoid their dispersion with the crowd."
This incident has sparked broader concerns about the treatment of detainees by the NDLEA, with calls for reforms to ensure timely trials and proper medical care for suspects.
