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

Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two other defendants over allegations bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping and multiple murder when tragedy struck at Court 11. He reportedly slumped in the court’s holding area shortly after Justice Amadise Michael Ekadi adjourned judgment in the case until October 27, 2026.

Witnesses said the suspect suddenly clutched his chest before collapsing. Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, police personnel and lawyers reportedly rushed to his aid and attempted to revive him, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. 

A medical personnel was later invited to examine him before his remains were taken to a hospital and subsequently deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) mortuary.

The Bayelsa State Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer, Enoch Okunobo, confirmed the incident on Tuesday evening, saying, 

“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).” 

Nwanlia and the two other defendants were being tried over their alleged involvement in the 2022 killing of three people in Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area.

Although reports indicated that Nwanlia had experienced health complications while in custody, authorities had yet to establish the actual cause of his death as of the time of filing this report.

 His death caused confusion among court officials, lawyers, security personnel and other people at the premises, while Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said he was unaware of the incident but promised to make inquiries.