Lawyer dies in Lagos court while defending clients

A lawyer simply identified as Chidi, has
reportedly slumped and died while defending
some alleged ‘meat’ thieves at the
Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere, Lagos on
Tuesday, March.
The Nation reports that the tragic occurrence
happened after the deceased who was
scheduled to appear as defence counsel for
alleged meat thieves; Okedairo Okedeji, 38,
and Akolade Agbola, 28, who pilfered the item
worth N28,000 from Southern Sun Hotel in
Ikoyi, Lagos.
The men had been granted bail after being
arraigned on February 29 and meeting the
conditions set by Magistrate F M Dalley.
Chidi who was supposed to represent the
accused in court on Tuesday, alongside the
defendants got into the court after the case
had been adjourned till April 14.
After apologising for their lateness, which he
reportedly said was due to the heavy traffic in
the state, Chidi also tried to plead with the
Magistrate for a change in the adjourned date,
when he started coughing and began to gasp
for breath.
Reports say he started clutching his chest
when the coughing would not stop, and
started panting “Obim!” “Obim!” , meaning “My
chest!” “My chest!” in Igbo language.
The people sitting close to him were said to
have quickly tried to help him loosen his tie
and also also took him outside the courtroom
to get fresh air as he pleaded that the people
should help him get a cab to take him home
quickly.
The lawyer appeared to have lost
consciousness as he was rushed downstairs,
and was carried on the back by one of the
clients but by the time the cab arrived, Chidi
had stopped breathing.
The Nation reports that the corpse was later
deposited at the Lagos Island General Hospital
morgue.