₦150 Million Bail don become the latest chapter in the unusual case of Mary Yetunde Barek, the UK-based Nigerian woman facing trial over alleged attempt to export 13 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden inside packages made to resemble plantain. The case first shock Nigerians when anti-drug officers reportedly discovered the suspicious “plantain” inside her luggage at Lagos airport, but the latest court development don add another serious twist: the court has granted bail under conditions wey no be small money matter.
The woman, who was initially widely reported as 67 years old when she was arrested, is now described in recent court reports as 70. That difference dey worth noting because the arrest reports and subsequent court proceedings no dey consistently state the same age. More importantly, ₦150 Million Bail no mean say court don declare her innocent; bail simply allows a defendant to remain out of custody while the criminal case continues.
₦150 Million Bail: Court Gives UK-Based Grandma Fighting 13kg Cocaine Case Another Legal Lifeline
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Barek was arrested on June 28, 2026, at Terminal 2 of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while she was preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London. NDLEA said officers searched her luggage and discovered 31 large wraps containing a total of 13kg of cocaine, allegedly packaged to resemble hands of plantain and mixed with other food items.
The arrest became a major talking point because the alleged concealment method sounded almost like somebody wanted plantain to audition for Nollywood. But underneath the social-media jokes lies a serious allegation involving a substantial quantity of cocaine. NDLEA said Barek, who works as a caregiver in the UK, admitted ownership of the recovered substance during interrogation. However, because she is facing trial, the allegation and evidence still have to pass through the judicial process before any final determination of guilt.
Recent court proceedings show that the matter has moved from airport interception to formal prosecution. She was arraigned on allegations involving possession, transportation and attempted exportation of 13kg of cocaine, with the prosecution relying on Section 11(b) of the NDLEA Act. She pleaded not guilty, and the court subsequently dealt with the question of whether she should remain in custody while the case continues.
₦150 Million Bail For Grandma Accused Of Taking 13kg Cocaine To UK—Who Get This Kind Plantain?
Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has now granted Barek bail in the sum of ₦150 million, with two sureties in like sum. The reported conditions include that the sureties must live within the court’s jurisdiction and own landed property worth at least ₦150 million, while they must also provide proof of ownership and evidence of tax payments for three years. Recent reporting further indicates that Barek is required to deposit her British passport with the court and must not leave Nigeria without the court’s permission.
So, before anybody begin calculate how much “plantain money” this one be, the important point be say bail conditions are not the same thing as a conviction or acquittal. The court is setting safeguards intended to ensure the defendant remains available for trial. And considering the alleged offence involves an international journey and a UK connection, the passport and travel restriction become particularly significant. The ₦150 Million Bail therefore comes with conditions wey fit make even property owners check their documents twice.
The wider case also reflects how drug traffickers continue to use creative concealment methods to move illegal substances through legitimate travel and commercial channels. NDLEA’s account of cocaine allegedly being disguised as plantain shows why airport searches no fit depend only on whether luggage looks like ordinary Nigerian foodstuff. For the people wey see plantain as innocent travelling companion, this particular case don give the fruit an unfortunate starring role in one serious criminal investigation.
For now, the ₦150 Million Bail only changes Barek’s custody status while the trial continues; e no settle the central question of whether she knowingly transported the alleged cocaine. The Fake Plantain discovery remains one of the strangest features of the case, but the real issue now dey inside the courtroom, where evidence—not social-media jokes—must determine what happened and who should ultimately bear responsibility. OGM News Pidgin go continue to follow the case as the legal proceedings develop.
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