50-Year-Old Murder Suspect Dies During Court Proceedings in Bayelsa

A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, has reportedly collapsed and died during court proceedings at the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.

Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two other defendants over allegations of conspiracy, kidnapping and multiple murder when he reportedly collapsed shortly after proceedings began at Court 11 on Tuesday.

The incident occurred after Justice Amadise Michael Ekadi adjourned judgment in the case to October 27, 2026.

Witnesses said Nwanlia suddenly held his chest before collapsing in the court’s holding area. Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, police personnel and lawyers reportedly attempted to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

A medical personnel was subsequently called to examine him, after which his body was taken to a hospital for further confirmation. His remains were later deposited at the Federal Medical Centre mortuary in Yenagoa.

The Bayelsa State Judiciary’s Public Relations Officer, Enoch Okunobo, confirmed the incident, saying Nwanlia was a murder suspect who had been attending court for the trial.

Nwanlia and the two other defendants were accused in connection with the 2022 killing of three people in Kalaba community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

However, the allegations against the defendants had not been finally determined by the court before Nwanlia’s death.

Reports indicated that the deceased had experienced health complications while in custody, although authorities had yet to establish the official cause of his death.

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

The Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said he was unaware of the incident when contacted but promised to make inquiries.

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