Lawyer slumps, dies in court

Tragedy struck at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court premises in Lagos Island, Lagos, on Tuesday when a lawyer, simply identified as Chidi, who came to represent his client, slumped and died after court proceedings.
Chidi was said to have arrived late for a case he came for before he died.
It was gathered that when Chidi got to the court with his client, who was accused of stealing, the court had already called the case and adjourned till April 14.
The lawyer then apologised to the court for coming late, attributing it to traffic.
As the lawyer was apologising, he started gasping for breath and was coughing profusely. His client rushed him outside the court room for fresh air.
When the cough persists, his tie was removed and he pleaded that they should help him get a cab to take him home.
While they were trying to get the cab, he couldn’t move any longer so his client had to carry him on his back down stairs, immediately he got into the cab, he stopped breathing.
The taxi man returned him back to the court premises, saying he could not carry the lawyer to avoid police harassment.
It was later confirmed that he gave up the ghost at the Lagos Island General Hospital.
The deceased had come to court to appear in a case involving two accused, Okedairo Okedeji, 38; and Akolade Agbola, 28, who were alleged to have stolen meat and snail worth N28,000, belonging to Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The accused, arraigned on Feb. 29, were alleged to have committed the offences of conspiracy and stealing on Nov. 11, 2015.
However, the accused pleaded not guilty.
The Magistrate, Mrs F. M. Dalley, had granted the accused bail in the sum of N5,000, with one surety each in like sum and adjourned the case to March 15 for trial.