President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, to take all necessary steps towards ensuring Zainab Aliyu, the Nigerian student accused of drug trafficking in Saudi returns to the country. Zainab is currently under detention in Saudi Arabia.

President Buhari’s order became necessary when reports from investigations revealed that Zainab was innocent. The hard drug is said to have been allegedly ‘planted’ in her luggage by a syndicate group in the airport who specialise in planting hard drugs in travelers’ luggage.

Media aide to Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in a statement yesterday said the President ordered the AGF to ensure Zainab is released and that she returns safely to Nigeria.

The statement assured that progress was being made in Zainab’s case along with that of two others in similar circumstances in Saudi Arabia.