Bayelsa: Murder suspect slumps, dies during trial

A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly collapsed and died shortly after proceedings in his case began at the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.

Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two other defendants over charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and multiple murder.

The incident occurred at Court 11 shortly after Justice Amadise Michael Ekadi adjourned judgment in the matter to October 27, 2026.

Some people who attended the court session told newsmen that Nwanlia suddenly clutched his chest before collapsing in the court’s holding area.

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Officers from the Correctional service, police personnel and lawyers attempted to revive him, but their efforts were in vain.

A medical personnel was subsequently called to examine him, after which his body was reportedly taken to a hospital for further confirmation.

Nwanlia and the other defendants were facing allegations connected to the 2022 killings of three persons in Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The allegations against the defendants had not been finally determined by the court at the time of Nwanlia’s death.

Reports also indicated that Nwanlia had experienced health complications while in custody.

However, authorities had yet to officially establish the cause of his death as of the time of reporting.

The development caused confusion among court officials, lawyers, security personnel and other people present at the court premises.

The public relations officer of the Bayelsa State Judiciary, Mr. Enoch Okunobo, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust Tuesday evening, said the corpse has been deposited in the Federal Medical Centre mortuary.

He said, “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).”

When contacted, the police spokesman in Bayelsa State, DSP Musa Mohammed, said he was not aware of the incident, but promised to find out and revert but he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustration