70-year-old woman remanded over alleged 13kg cocaine trafficking

A 70-year-old woman, Barek Mary Yetunde, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre after being arraigned over the alleged possession, transportation and attempted exportation of 13 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, ordered her remand on Wednesday following her arraignment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Yetunde, a resident of Okota, Lagos, was brought before the court on a two-count charge dated August 8, 2026. She pleaded not guilty to both counts.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences occurred on or about June 28, 2026, at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The NDLEA alleged that during the outward clearance of passengers boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight from Lagos to the United Kingdom, Yetunde attempted to export 13kg of cocaine.

She was also accused of transporting the same quantity of cocaine from her residence to the airport’s Terminal 2 departure hall.

The alleged offences contravene Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Following her plea, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending further proceedings.

Defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, however, urged the court to hear the defendant’s bail application, informing the judge that the application had already been filed and served on the prosecution.

He said the NDLEA had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, while the defence had also filed a response.

The prosecutor confirmed that the agency had opposed the bail application.

In his ruling, Justice Ogazi said the court could not immediately hear the bail application because of the number of matters listed on the vacation cause list.

Ndakara subsequently asked the court to remand Yetunde in NDLEA custody, citing her age and reported health challenges.

The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the agency lacked adequate facilities to keep the defendant in its custody.

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.