Foreign Affairs Ministry
says its silent diplomatic efforts in the past few weeks culminated in the
release of Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar arrested by Saudi authority for a
drug-related offence.
The ministry said this in a
statement by its Acting Spokesperson, Friday Akpan, on Thursday in Abuja
“Zainab Aliyu, a Nigerian
student who travelled for Lesser Hajj with her mother was arrested by Saudi
Security Officials on December 26, 2018, in a hotel in Madinah.
“She was accused of
possessing a bag containing illicit drugs purportedly bearing a tag with her
name.
“Another passenger, Ibrahim
Abubakar, unrelated to Zainab who also travelled on the same aircraft, was also
arrested on the same day,” it stated.
The ministry explained that
Zainab Aliyu was released on April 30, while Ibrahim Abubakar was released on
May 1.
It also stressed that the
intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari directing that all efforts be
exerted to secure their release facilitated the expedited final favourable
resolution of the matter.
While explaining further
its efforts on the release of the two Nigerians, the ministry stated that on
receipt of the information on their arrest, the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah
intervened.
It stated that the Nigerian
Mission in Saudi then requested for a full investigation to ascertain the
innocence of Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar.
“Investigations conducted
by the Airport Authorities and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in
Kano discovered a drug cartel at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,
Kano, that specialises in planting illicit drugs on innocent travellers without
their knowledge.
“It was also discovered
that the bag tagged in Zainab’s name was planted by the cartel without her
knowledge.
“Following the arrest of
members of the cartel, the Federal Government is currently prosecuting the
suspects in the Federal High Court, Kano.
“The outcome of the
investigation and subsequent trial of the suspects confirmed the innocence of
the two Nigerians.
“The Consulate General of
Nigeria in Jeddah, upon instruction from Headquarters, therefore sent series of
Diplomatic Notes to the Saudi Foreign Ministry informing of the arrest of
members of the syndicate in Kano and forwarding the report of the NDLEA
investigation and court proceeding.”
It stated that
investigation documents were forwarded to the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah to
further support the innocence of the two Nigerians and also resolve the issue
of luggage tag numbers.
According to the ministry,
following these efforts, officials in the Consulate secured an appointment and
met with the Director General of the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Jeddah.
It said that the DG then
requested the official in the consulate to forward the NDLEA report to all
concerned Saudi agencies with a view to releasing Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim
Abubakar.
“All these processes
followed were consistent with the usual diplomatic channel of engagement.
“To maintain the diplomatic
pressure, another Note was sent by our Embassy in Riyadh conveying the same
message to the Saudi Authorities.
“On April 26, a Note was
also sent to both the Saudi Embassy in Abuja and its Consulate in Kano,
forwarding court documents relating to the trial of members of the Kano
syndicate,” it stated.
It added that the Legal
Adviser of the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that relevant agencies and
departments in Saudi Arabia were going to meet to consider all the Notes Verbal
and reports submitted by Nigeria.
This, it stated, was to
facilitate early resolution of the case of Zainab Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar.
The ministry added that the
judicial and legal process in Nigeria also provided the critical documentation
that aided the diplomatic efforts to establish the innocence of both Zainab
Aliyu and Ibrahim Abubakar.
It stated that the
Consulate-General of Nigeria in Jeddah is currently processing travel documents
for the two individuals to facilitate their return to Nigeria.
The ministry commended the
Saudi government, through its Embassy in Abuja and officials of Saudi Foreign
Ministry, for cooperating with Nigeria in the eventual resolution of the
matter. (NAN)
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