Buhari directs AGF to intervene in Zainab Aliyu’s case in Saudi Arabia

NDLEA confirms prosecution of six airport workers over alleged drug peddling
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to immediately intervene in the case of Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian student incriminated in drug-related matters and detained in Saudi Arabia.

A statement yesterday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, media aide to Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the President gave the directive soon after his attention was drawn to the matter.

“President Buhari gave the directive immediately the matter was brought to his attention.

“My office has been working with the AGF as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in that regard,” the statement said.

The presidential aide assured that progress was being made in Aliyu’s case alongside two others caught in a similar circumstance in Saudi Arabia.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that Aliyu, though detained, has not been put on trial by the Saudi Arabian government.

“And with the hard evidence that those who implicated her have been arrested, a strong legal case is being made to the Saudi authorities,” she said.

In another development, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has charged six airport officials before a Federal High Court in Kano for alleged injection of illicit substance in passengers’ luggage.

The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, told journalists that the officials were arrested at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, following their alleged involvement in conniving with drug syndicates to insert illicit substance in passengers’ luggage.

The suspects, if found guilty, risk life sentence in jail or maximum of 25 years imprisonment.