Thursday, August 27, 2026 - The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 70-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Barek Mary Yetunde, at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility over alleged trafficking of 13 kilograms of cocaine.
The court, presided over by Justice Friday Ogazi, arrived at
the decision shortly after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
arraigned the septuagenarian on a two-count charge of unlawful possession,
transportation, and exportation of a narcotic drug.
Upon the calling of the criminal matter, the counsel for the
NDLEA, Mr Abu Ibrahim, announced appearance for the prosecution, while Chief
Benson Ndakara appeared for the defendant.
In addressing the court, Ibrahim moved an application
seeking leave of the court to arraign the defendant during the court vacation,
which was granted by Justice Ogazi.
The two-count charge dated August 8, 2026, was then read to
the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
In the criminal charge before the court, Barek Mary Yetunde
of No. 14, Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street, Okota, Lagos, was alleged to have on or
about June 28, 2026, at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed
International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, during outward clearance of
passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to the United Kingdom,
exported 13kg of cocaine without lawful authority.
The defendant was equally alleged to have transported the
same 13kg of cocaine from her residence in Okota to the Departure Hall of
Terminal 2, MMIA, Ikeja.
The offences are contrary to and punishable under Section
11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
However, after her plea, the NDLEA prayed to Justice Ogazi
for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional
Facility.
On his part, the counsel for the defence, Chief Ndakara,
revealed that a bail application had already been filed and served on the
prosecution, adding that the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit which
the defence had responded to, urging the judge to hear the bail motion.
The prosecutor confirmed he had filed an opposition to the bail application.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Ogazi held that the court could not hear the bail application due to the volume of cases on the vacation cause list.
As a result of the decision of the court, Ndakara requested
that the defendant be remanded in NDLEA custody due to her age and health
challenges, but the prosecution opposed, stating the agency lacks adequate
facilities to accommodate her.
Justice Ogazi adjourned the matter to September 2, 2026, for
hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at
the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ikoyi, pending the hearing.
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