Saudi Arabia Releases Three Nigerians Prosecuted for Cocaine Trafficking
From Our Correspondent.
Saudi Arabia has released three Nigerians who were previously arrested and prosecuted in the country. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the release followed high-level diplomatic discussions between the Nigerian government and Saudi authorities.
The individuals released are Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah, and Fatima Gamboi. They were arrested on suspicion of possessing a substance believed to be cocaine while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
According to the statement, they were detained and prosecuted on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and spent 10 months in detention before their release.
The statement explained that the women’s arrest was linked to the earlier apprehension of two Nigerian nationals found with a total of 150 capsules of cocaine weighing 1,689.78 grams.
The women were suspected of being accomplices in aiding the trafficking of the illegal substance that was discovered with the two previously arrested individuals.
The Ministry noted that the trio’s arrest garnered significant attention in both Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. Their successful release resulted from extensive diplomatic and legal efforts, which led to their discharge and acquittal, as well as their subsequent handover to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Jeddah.
Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the consul-general of Nigeria in Jeddah, welcomed the women, who are now awaiting necessary immigration processes to return to Nigeria and reunite with their families.
