The arraignment of a 42-year-old Indian woman, Neetu Neetu, who was arrested at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 72 parcels of heroin totalling 11kilograms, sealed and packaged as chocolates, was stalled because the defendant does not speak English and no interpreter was available.
Class A drug consignment was found when the Indian woman’s luggage was searched on arrival at Kano airport on board Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Counsel for the defendant, B.Y Gambo, told the court that his client, who was arrested on arrival in the country, does not speak English and the prosecution should hire an interpreter for her to understand the court proceedings.
NDLEA’s counsel, Umar Hussaini, explained that the interpretation unit of the agency is not functioning at the moment and the defendant, being a foreign national, is being treated with utmost care and professionalism while in custody.
Justice Simon Amobeda orders the prosecution to apply to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Indian High Commission to provide an interpreter before the next adjourned date.
The judge adjourned the matter to June 4 for arraignment when an interpreter is likely to be secured.
The defendant is remanded in the custody of the NDLEA.
