70-year-old woman accused of cocaine trafficking gets N150m bail

Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday granted bail of N150m to a 70-year-old woman, Yetunde Barek, who is facing trial for allegedly trafficking 13 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Ogazi granted the defendant bail with two sureties in like sum, directing that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and own landed property worth at least N150m.

The judge also ordered the sureties to provide evidence of ownership of the property and proof of tax payments for three years.

Barek, who resides in the United Kingdom, was further ordered to deposit her British international passport with the court and remain within the country throughout the trial unless she obtains the court’s permission to travel.

The defendant was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on allegations of exporting and transporting 13kg of cocaine to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for onward shipment to the United Kingdom.

The NDLEA alleged that Barek committed the offences on June 28, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The agency further alleged that she transported the cocaine from her residence on Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street, Okota, Lagos, to the airport for export.

The alleged offences contravene Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges when she was arraigned before Justice Ogazi in August.

Following her plea, the prosecution, led by Abu Ibrahim, requested a date for trial and prayed the court to remand her in custody pending commencement of proceedings.

Defence counsel, Benson Ndakara, informed the court that his client had filed a bail application, which had been served on the prosecution.

He said the prosecution had filed a counter to the application and that the defence had also filed a response, adding that he was ready to move the application subject to the convenience of the court.

Ibrahim, however, said the prosecution had filed its response opposing the bail application.

Ndakara subsequently urged the court to allow the defendant to be remanded in NDLEA custody, citing her health condition.

The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the NDLEA did not have adequate facilities to cater for the defendant’s health needs.

Following the disagreement, Ndakara sought a short adjournment to enable him to formally move the bail application.

Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the matter to September 2 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Barek remain in the custody of the Correctional Centre pending the determination of the application.

The bail application was heard on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, after which Justice Ogazi granted the defendant bail on the stated conditions.

The court also ordered that the defendant must not travel outside Nigeria without its permission pending the determination of the case.(Punch)