President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to swiftly intervene in the case of Zainab Aliyu, a student detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking. This was disclosed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the senior special assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs.
In a statement made via her twitter handle on Monday, the president’s special aide said that President Buhari has asked the AGF to secure the release of Zainab and two others in a similar situation. Although detained, Zainab has not been put on trial by the Saudi Arabia government.
Zainab who is a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, was arrested after a banned drug, tramadol, was found in her bag. She claimed it was planted in her luggage by unknown persons.
The student had reportedly travelled from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in company with her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, and sister, Hajara Aliyu, but was arrested over allegations that a bag bearing her name tag contained the unlawful substance.
Reports suggest that it was later discovered that Zainab like some others, was a victim of a cartel that specialises in planting hard drugs and banned substances in travellers’ bags. Some members of the cartel are said to already be in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC).
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