Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the remand of a 70-year-old woman, Barek Mary Yetunde, at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over an alleged 13-kilogramme cocaine trafficking offence.
Justice Friday Ogazi made the order on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned Yetunde on a two-count charge bordering on the unlawful possession, transportation, and attempted exportation of cocaine.
The septuagenarian, a resident of No. 14, Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street, Okota, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read to her.
According to the charge sheet dated August 8, 2026, Yetunde allegedly committed the offences on or about June 28, 2026, at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The prosecution alleged that during the outward clearance of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to the United Kingdom, Yetunde unlawfully attempted to export 13kg of cocaine. She was also accused of transporting the same quantity of cocaine from her residence to the airport's departure hall.
The alleged offences contravene Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
At the proceedings, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim sought and obtained the court's permission to arraign the defendant during the court vacation. Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
However, defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution. He added that the NDLEA had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the application, to which the defence had responded. He consequently urged the court to hear the bail application.
In his ruling, Justice Ogazi said the court could not hear the bail application immediately because of the volume of cases listed on the vacation cause list.
Ndakara subsequently asked the court to consider remanding the septuagenarian in NDLEA custody, citing her age and reported health challenges. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the agency did not have adequate facilities to accommodate her.
Justice Ogazi consequently ordered that Yetunde be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application. The judge adjourned the case until September 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
The NDLEA had earlier arrested the 70-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 28, 2026, after operatives discovered 13 kilogrammes of cocaine cleverly concealed in fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage. She was attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London when she was intercepted. The seized drugs had an estimated street value of over £1 million.
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