Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced a Lagos-based socialite and alleged drug trafficker, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, to 45 years in prison for the unlawful exportation of 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The court imposed a 15-year jail term on each of the three counts—conspiracy, possession, and illegal exportation of cocaine. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Ogbuaya will serve an effective term of 15 years starting from May 19, 2017, the date of her arrest.
Ogbuaya had earlier been found guilty on all counts, but sentencing was initially deferred following an application by her counsel.
The case, marked FHC/L/124C/2017, originated from the arrest of her co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara, also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, who was apprehended on February 23, 2017, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
During interrogation, Omolara reportedly stated that Ogbuaya supplied her with the cocaine intended for export to Saudi Arabia. She had earlier pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, now of the Court of Appeal.
Throughout the trial, prosecution witnesses gave detailed accounts of how the operation was carried out. One of them, Iyabode Shonibare, the arresting officer, testified that Omolara raised an alarm at the point of arrest, shouting that “Arike has killed me.”
Another witness confirmed that Omolara consistently maintained that Ogbuaya handed her the bag containing the illicit substance.
A security guard at Ogbuaya’s residence, identified as Aliyu, also testified that Omolara visited the house a day before her arrest and spent the night there. He added that unidentified individuals had earlier delivered the same bag later used in the drug operation, and that Ogbuaya personally drove Omolara to the airport on the day of her arrest.
In her defence, Ogbuaya admitted knowing Omolara but denied any involvement in drug trafficking. She claimed Omolara had visited her seeking financial help, and that she only gave her ₦10,000. She also acknowledged taking her to the airport while on her way to Ajase in the Republic of Benin, insisting she had no knowledge of the drugs.
After reviewing all the evidence, Justice Dipeolu found her guilty on all three counts.
During allocutus, defence counsel Yakubu Galadima appealed to the court for leniency, citing that the convict is a first-time offender, expressed remorse, and has dependents. Nonetheless, the court proceeded to impose the sentence in line with the law.
