Palpable tension enveloped the Ikeja High Court on Tuesday when a suspect, Oluwatobi Ayoko, attempted to commit suicide.

Mr Ayoko, 25, is standing trial before Justice Hakeem Oshodi, whose courtroom is on the second floor of a two-storey building and directly opposite the second gate of the court complex.

The defendant is facing a six-count charge bordering on causing grievous bodily harm, damage to property and membership in an unlawful society.

His counsel moved his bail application, praying the court to admit him to bail on a liberal term; the prosecution objected, saying that the defendant was a flight risk.

After listening to both lawyers, Mr Oshodi adjourned the case until April 9 for a ruling on the bail application.

Dissatisfied with the adjournment, the defendant started tapping prosecution team members, saying they were his friends and should release him.

When he was being taken out of the courtroom, the defendant started headbutting the wall, shouting, “I want to die; I can’t wait till April.”

He climbed the window of the courtroom in an attempt to jump down from the two-storey building.

It took the intervention of police officers and a correctional service officer to stop the defendant, as they were able to hold one of his legs. 

(NAN)