A Nigerian national has died while awaiting trial in Maafushi prison.

Corrections said Emmanuel Johnfall Okonachi, 35, died after a sudden fall in the prison yard while playing with other inmates.

He was rushed to the prison's medical facility. It took four minutes between his fall and his arrival at the medical facility.

Corrections said he died at 5:20 pm on Wednesday while undergoing emergency treatment.

Emmanuel was arrested and held pending trial on charges of possession, use and trafficking of drugs.

Under the procedure for deaths in prison, the incident has been reported to the head of Corrections, the Police, the Prosecutor General (PG) office the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), and the National Integrity Commission (NIC).

A total of 435 people are currently being held in jails pending trial. Most of them were arrested for drug charges.

The detainees include citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, India, Brazil, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Turkey, the UK, Kenya, Philippines, Latvia, Singapore and Switzerland.