FG obtains release of three Nigerians prosecuted for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia

Owotoki Christiana Temitope January 6, 2025

The federal government on Sunday obtained the release of its national arrested and prosecutor for drug trafficking.

The three ladies who were Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah and Fatima Kannai Gamboi, were arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking on 5th March 2024 at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport Madinah, Saudi Arabia as accomplices to two other Nigerian nationals who were found in possession of 80 capsules of cocaine weighing 900.28 gm and 70 capsules of Cocaine weighing 789.5gm, respectively.

The trio were however released due to the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a statement by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that their release followed some prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements and they have been handed over to the country’s Consulate-General in Jeddah.

The statement reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that three Nigerian nationals, Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah and Fatima Kannai Gamboi, arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking on 5th March 2024 at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport Madinah, Saudi Arabia, has been released after spending 10 months in detention.

“The arrest of the three women was a result of the earlier arrest of two Nigerian nationals who were found in possession of 80 capsules of Cocaine weighing 900.28 gm and 70 capsules of Cocaine weighing 789.5gm, respectively. The women were detained by the Saudi authorities on suspicion of being accomplices and abating the trafficking of the banned substance found on the aforementioned arrested Nigerians.

“The Ministry wishes to recall that the trio’s arrest attracted much attention in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. Their successful release was achieved after prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements, which culminated in their discharge and acquittal, as well as subsequent handover to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Jeddah.

“The ladies were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the Honourable Consul-General of Nigeria in Jeddah and are currently awaiting relevant immigration processes for their return to Nigeria to reunite with their families.”