Three women, accused of conspiring to hide over 2.5kg of substance believed to be cocaine in the bags of some sponsored pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, have been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Kano.
Security operatives arrested Binta Nasidi, Ahmad Zulaihat Adam, and Rashidat Abdullahi at Jedda International Airport upon arrival from Kano on suspicion of importing illicit drugs to the kingdom.
The Kano Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned the trio, but they pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge leveled against them.
Counsel for the defendants, Barrister A.A Sani, applied for their bail, arguing that they should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Sani said that the charges were bailable, urging the court to exercise its discretionary power in the case.
Although the prosecution counsel objected to the bail application, Justice Simon Amobeda granted them bail with stringent conditions.
The three defendants were required to deposit N10 million each with the court registry while the trial lasts.
Justice Amobeda also ordered that each of the defendants must provide two reliable sureties who own landed property in Kano, with each surety required to provide a sum equivalent to the bail amount.
The case was adjourned to 18th January 18 for further mention.
