Nigerian man held on drug charges dies in Maldives prison

A Nigerian detainee died in Maafushi Prison on Wednesday, as he awaited trial on drug trafficking charges.

According to the Maldives Correctional Service, Emmanuel John Paul Okonachi, 35, had been playing with other detainees at the prison’s yard on Wednesday late afternoon when he suddenly collapsed.

He was immediately taken to the prison’s medical center where he was administered emergency medical aid, and then evacuated to the Maafushi Hospital in under four minutes.

The doctor came and declared him dead at around 05:20 pm, said the Correctional Service.

According to the Correctional Service, Okanachi had been detained at the prison pending the outcome of his trial on charges of the use, possession and trafficking of drugs.

He was not known to be suffering from any chronic illness, added the service.

The Correctional Service said it had notified the Inspector of Correctional Service, Maldives Police Service, the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, the National Integrity Commission and the Prosecutor General’s Office of his death.