Lawyer dies in Lagos court while defending clients

Lawyer dies in Lagos court while defending clients

 – Lawyer reportedly arrives late to court due to massive Lagos traffic

 – Apologises to Magistrate on why he got late to the court

 – Slumped in the process of explaining what happened to the court 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.