• Foreign Affairs
• Saudi Arabia

THREE NIGERIAN WOMEN ACQUITTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES IN SAUDI ARABIA

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 2 weeks
• 0
• 2 min read

Three Nigerian women, Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah, and Fatima Kannai Gamboi, who were arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia, have been discharged and acquitted after spending 10 months in detention. The women were arrested on March 5, 2024, at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, following the discovery of 1.69 kilograms of cocaine capsules with two other Nigerians. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the women’s detention was a result of suspicion of complicity in the trafficking of the banned substances. However, after prolonged diplomatic and legal efforts, they were finally discharged and acquitted. “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 Jedda,” the Ministry stated. The women were handed over to the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah after their acquittal and were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the Consul-General of Nigeria in Jeddah. They are currently undergoing immigration processes for their return to Nigeria to reunite with their families. “The ladies were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the Honourable Consul-General of Nigeria in Jeddah and currently awaiting relevant immigration processes for their return to Nigeria to reunite with their families,” the statement read.