A Congolese judge handling the graft case against Vital Kamerhe, former top aide to President Felix Tshisekedi, has died.

Judge Raphael Yanyi was pronounced dead Wednesday morning on arrival at a hospital in the capital Kinshasa after he fell ill at his home at around 2am, police confirmed.

"The judge was a victim of a heart attack.

A day before his death, Judge Yanyi had directed the public hearing of Kamerhe's trial in $50 million graft case.

Kamerhe, once a close ally of Tshisekedi, is accused of embezzling the funds allocated to public works during Tshisekedi's first 100 days in office.