Litigant dies in Lagos High court premises as he vomits blood

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja was on Thursday thrown into state of confusion when a witness in an ongoing trial died within the court premises after vomiting blood before he could testify at the court.

The middle-aged man was reportedly said to have vomited blood which eventually led to his death before he could testify in a land dispute case where he was billed to testify before Justice O. A. Olayinka.

This disrupted activities and aborted further judicial session.

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased, who was the claimant, was sweating profusely and coughing before he could give his evidence. He was rushed out of the court as started coughing out thick blood, only to be pronounced dead by his lawyer some minutes later. The blood was said to have choked him as it came out in lumps, staining his shirt and the floor.

The deceased, whose names could not be ascertained, died just outside the court and was rushed out of the court premises in an ambulance to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) mortuary.

our reporters gathered that he was so wet with blood that people around were scared to hold him and offer first aid.
When contacted for the case file, the court clerk declined to comment on the case adding that it will be to his detriment. He directed reporters to the Chief Registrar of the court.
We gathered that the judge rose after the deceased lawyer informed the court that his client has just died outside the court.

The strong smell of Izal disinfectant at the corridor and staircase of the court testified to the fact that the court authority had disinfected the place for health reason.