70-Year-Old Woman Remanded for Alleged Cocaine Export

Barek Mary Yetunde, a 70-year-old woman, has been ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ikoyi by Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos. This decision follows her arraignment by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a two-count charge related to the alleged possession, transportation, and exportation of 13 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The alleged offenses occurred on June 28, 2026, at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight to the United Kingdom. Yetunde pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution, represented by Mr Abu Ibrahim, sought a trial date and requested that Yetunde be remanded in custody pending the trial. Although her defense counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, requested an early hearing of her bail application, Justice Ogazi scheduled the hearing for September 2, 2026, due to a backlog of cases.