A Federal High Court in Kano on Monday granted bail to three defendants accused of conspiring and planting over 2.5kg of cocaine in the bags of some sponsored pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia.
Binta Nasidi, Ahmad Zulaihat Adam, and Rashidat Abdullahi, were apprehended by security operatives at Jedda International Airport upon arrival.
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The Kano Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arraigned the trio, who pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge presented against them before Justice Simon Amobeda.
Defense counsel Barrister A.A Sani requested bail for the defendants, arguing that they should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sani highlighted that the charges in question were bailable offenses and urged the court to exercise its discretionary power responsibly.
Although the prosecution counsel objected to the defense’s request, Justice Simone Amobeda granted bail to the defendants with certain conditions.
As per the NDLEA’s Charge Sheet, the three defendants, Hajiya Sharifat Abdullahi (Maman Salma), Idris Sani Suleiman, and Abdulwaheed Abdulrahim (Alfa), were each required to deposit N10 million with the court registry while awaiting trial.
Justice Amobeda also ordered that each defendant must provide two reliable sureties who own landed property in Kano, with each surety required to provide a sum equivalent to the bail amount.
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The presiding judge, Justice Amobeda adjourned the case to 18th January, 2024, for further mention.
The Charges reads:
“That you, Hajiya Sharifat Abdullahi, a.k.a Maman Salma), Female, Adult; Idris Sani Suleiman, Male, Adult; Abdulwaheed Addulrahim (a.k.a Alarafa, Male, Adult; Felicia Ayoade Oluyemi, Female, Adult (now at large), and Usman Sharafaddeen
Mohammed (a.k..a Alfa), Male, Adult (now at large), on or about the 21st day of June, 2023 at Kano, Kano State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to export 2.554.4 kilogrammes of Cocaine to Jedda, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Hajiya Sharifat Abdullahi, a k.a Maman Female, Adult; Idris Sani Suleiman, Male, Adult, on or about the 21st day of June, 2023 at Kano, Kano State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided one Felicia Ayoade Oluyemi, Female, Adult (now at large) and Usman Sharafaddeen
Mohammed now at large) to surreptitiously plant 2.554.4 kilogrammes of Cocaine into the travelling bags of Binta Nasidi, Ahmad Zulaihat Adam and Rashidat Abdullahi whom you sponsored to Pilgrimage to the Holy Land for the purpose of exporting same to Jedda and who were
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An-ested with the 2.554.4 kilogrammes of Cocaine at Jedda, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you, Hajiya Sharifat Abdullahi (a.k.a Maman Salma), Female, Adult; Idris Sani Suleiman, Male, Adult; Felicia Ayoade Oluyemi, Female, Adult (now at large) and Usman Sharafaddeen Mohammed (a.k.a Alfa), Male, Adult (now at large), on or about the 21st day of June, 2023 at Kano, Kano State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, exported 2.554.4 kilogrammes of Cocaine to Jedda, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by surreptitiously planting same into the travelling bags of Binta Nasidi, Ahmad Zulaihat Adam and Rashidat Abdullahi whom you sponsored to Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and who were arrested with the 2.554.4 kilogrammes of Cocaine at Jedda, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, CAP N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
