A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has admitted 67-year-old United Kingdom-based grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, to bail in the sum of ₦150 million following her arraignment for alleged drug trafficking.
Justice Friday Ogazi granted the substantial bail bond alongside two sureties matching the same amount. Court stipulations mandate that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, possess verified landed property valued at no less than ₦150 million, and provide certified proof of property ownership alongside three years of tax clearance certificates. Furthermore, Barek has been directed to surrender her British international passport to the court registry and is barred from exiting the country without express judicial approval throughout the duration of the trial.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is prosecuting the sexagenarian on charges bordering on the unlawful export and transportation of 13 kilogrammes of cocaine. According to court documents, the anti-narcotics agency intercepted the illicit cargo on June 28, 2026, during outward passenger clearance for a Virgin Atlantic flight at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
Investigators alleged that Barek moved the prohibited substance—cleverly concealed inside fake plantain packaging mimicking local food items—from her residence along Alhaji Azeez Ajanaku Street in the Okota area of Lagos straight to the international terminal.
Arraigned in August, Barek entered a plea of not guilty to the counts brought against her, which run contrary to Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act. While the prosecution strongly contested her liberty application during the hearing, defense counsel successfully argued for bail by citing health concerns. Justice Ogazi ultimately exercised discretion to grant the application subject to the stringent financial and administrative safeguards.
NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Grandmother Over Cocaine Hidden in Plantain Peels
This news report provides visual context on the initial arrest by the NDLEA at the Lagos airport.
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