A 57-year-old rape suspect, Sani Mohammed, on Tuesday died in the premises of the Chief Magistrate Court II in Yola, Adamawa State.
Late Sani, who was a butcher, and hailed from Wauru Jabbe in Yola South Local Government Area, had been in Yola prison for exactly one year for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor.
Our correspondent learnt that the deceased had been very sick for about three weeks before he was brought to court on Tuesday.
He was earlier sued before Magistrate Japhet Basani by the Commissioner of Police on August 24, 2020, and had been on holding charge before his demise on August 24, 2021.
The accused person died in court premises while the court was being presided over by Magistrate Basani.
The magistrate’s attention was drawn to the condition of the deceased, but before he could go out to see and give necessary orders, Sani had collapsed and died.
The judge has since communicated the demise to the controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service for necessary action.
The corpse was subsequently moved to the mortuary by officials of the NCS.
Credit: Punch