Politics
Court Grants 67-Year-Old UK-Nigerian Grandma ₦150m Bail For
A 67-year-old UK-based Nigerian grandmother, Mary Yetunde Barek, has been granted ₦150 million bail after she was arraigned over the alleged trafficking of 13 kilogrammes of cocaine disguised as plantain at the Lagos airport for onward shipment to the United Kingdom.
Barek is facing trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos, following allegations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that she attempted to export the illicit substance through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Justice Friday Ogazi granted her ₦150 million bail with two sureties in like sum. The court ordered that the sureties must reside within its jurisdiction and own landed property worth at least ₦150 million.
They are also required to provide evidence of ownership and proof of tax payments for three years.
The bail conditions have added a fresh twist to the case involving the septuagenarian, who resides in the UK but has now been ordered to remain in Nigeria while the trial continues.
Barek was also directed to surrender her British international passport to the court and must not leave Nigeria without obtaining permission.
The NDLEA alleged that the 67-year-old woman transported 13kg of cocaine, concealed as plantain, to the Lagos airport for export to the UK.
According to the agency, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2026, during the outward clearance of passengers boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight at Terminal 2 of the airport in Ikeja.
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The prosecution further alleged that Barek transported the substance from her residence on Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street, Okota, Lagos, to the airport for onward shipment.
She was subsequently arraigned in August and pleaded not guilty to the charges, which the NDLEA said contravened Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act.
The prosecution opposed her bail application, while her lawyer reportedly relied on her health condition in urging the court to grant her freedom pending trial.
Justice Ogazi eventually granted the ₦150 million bail but imposed stringent conditions, including the requirement that Barek remain in Nigeria throughout the trial unless the court grants her permission to travel.
The case has attracted attention because of the age of the accused and the enormous quantity of cocaine she is alleged to have attempted to export.
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