When She Was Nabbed
Justice Friday Ogazi of a federal High Court, Lagos, today ordered the remand of a Nigerian-British grandma, Barek Mary Yetunde, who was brought before the court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged unlawful exportation and transportation of 13 Kilogrames of cocaine.
Justice Ogazi ordered her remand at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) following her not guilty plea to the two counts charge slammed on her by the anti-narcotic agency.
The 67 years old alleged drug trafficker was arrested with the prohibited drug by the NDLEA’s operatives, which she attempted to smuggled to her United Kingdom base on June 28, 2026.
She was alleged to have concealed the substance concealed in peels of plantain.
She was however nabbed at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic airline flight to London on Sunday 28th June 2026.
At the resumed arrraignment of the Ondo State-born grandma, the NDLEA was represented by Abu Ibrahim as prosecutor, while Chief Benson Ndakara led Chief Dennis Warri as the defence team.
The prosecutor informed the court of the two count charge preferred against the defendant and prayed the court to allow the reading the charge to the defendant for the purpose of taking her plea. The prayer was granted by the court, hence the charges were read to the defendant as: “Barek Mary Yetunde, female, adult in nigeria of on 14, Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Stree, Okota, Lagos State, on or about 28th June, 2026, at the departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Mohammed international Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the upward of clearance of passengers of the Atlantic flight from Lagos to United Kingdom, without lawful authority exported 13 kilograms of cocaine, a Narcotic drug and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 11(2) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.
“That you, Barek Mary Yetunde, female, adult, Nigerian, on or about 14, June, 2026, without lawful authority transported from your house located No. 14, Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street Okota, Lagos, to the Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, using your vehicle a black toyota RAV4 with registration number WW 829 FW, as the instrumentality of conveyance for the 13 Kilogrames of cocaine a Narcotic drug, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20(1)(a) of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, Cap N30 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 20 (2)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Cap. N30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria.”
The defendant denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor prayed the court for a trial dated, as we urged the court to remand her pending the conclusion of the trial.
Her lawyers, while not opposed the trial date request of the prosecutor, however informed the court that they have filed a bail application on her behalf and same has been served on the prosecutor, who has equally responded.
The court however rejected the defendant’s lawyer prayer for her remand at the NDLEA facility, as vehemently opposed by the prosecutor pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.
Consequently, Justice Ogazi while adjourning the matter to September 2, for hearing and determination of the bail application, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the NCOs’ facility