Victoria Alabi, a 45-year-old female arms dealer, experienced a sudden collapse while appearing before Justice N.E. Maha at the Federal High Court in Ibadan on November 14.
Gists9ja reports that Alabi, who was standing trial alongside 43-year-old Morufu Balogun, is accused of being involved in the illegal sale of 390,700 rounds of ammunition and cartridges. The two defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge, which includes serious allegations of unlawful arms dealing, illegal sale of firearms and ammunition, aiding and abetting criminal activities, and involvement in terrorism.
As the formal charges were being read out to the accused in the courtroom, Alabi unexpectedly lost consciousness, causing an immediate wave of concern and panic among those present. The courtroom, typically a place of quiet formality, was thrown into disarray as people reacted to the incident. Fortunately, court staff acted quickly and managed to revive Alabi, who was attended to by medical personnel on hand.
Alabi’s defense counsel, Olalade Gbolagade, immediately approached the bench to inform the court of his client’s ongoing health issues. Gbolagade explained that Alabi’s condition had been deteriorating for some time, and it was not the first instance of her suffering health problems during her detention.
The lawyer revealed that, while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), Alabi had been urgently taken to the University College Hospital for medical attention. Gbolagade emphasized the gravity of her condition, requesting the court to consider granting her bail on the grounds of her health.
Along with this, the defense counsel also filed a similar application for bail on behalf of Morufu Balogun, seeking the court’s leniency in light of the circumstances. In his response, Justice Maha acknowledged the medical concerns raised by the defense and instructed the DSS to ensure that both Alabi and Balogun received adequate medical care while in custody.
The judge also took note of the defense’s request for bail and adjourned the proceedings to November 28, at which time a decision would be made regarding the bail applications for both defendants. The case is expected to continue with further developments, as the legal process moves forward.
