Alleged Drug Trafficking: Court To Sentence Ariket's Associate Until March 19

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, will on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, deliver a ruling on conviction and sentence of one Mrs Odeyemi Omolola, a co- accused of a Lagos socialite, Mrs Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, (a.k.a. Ariket) who are jointly facing trial for alleged drug trafficking offences.

The judge arrived at the date after Omolara, who is already serving a 25-year-jail-term over drug trafficking offences, pleaded guilty to two of the five count charge.

As a result of her guilty plea position to the amended charge slammed against her, the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, re-tendered all the exhibits that were earlier tendered before Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari who was handling the matter before she was transferred to the Sokoto division of the court and eventually elevated to the Court of Appeal. 

Mrs Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, alongside her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Mrs Odeyemi Omolola were re-arraigned on March on an amended four counts charge. 

The duo, who are also known as Funmilola Ogundipe and Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi respectively, were re-arraigned before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

The alleged drug pushers were first arraigned before Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometime in 2017, on a five count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia.

While the convicted Odeyemi Omolara, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, Ariket, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting and procuring the convict for the purpose of trafficking the prohibited drug. 

But they both pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were admitted to bail on various terms by the court.

However, while the trial lasted, the convict informed the court of her intention to change her plea, which was granted by the court. 

Consequently, and upon the re-reading of the charge, she pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to illegally export the prohibited drug to Saudi-Arabia, and she was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Not satisfied with Justice Shagari's judgment, the convict, through her lawyer, appealed her conviction.

However, NDLEA through its lawyer, Abu Ibrahim, filed a counter to the appeal and urged the court to affirm the convict's conviction.

In handing down it judgment on the appeal, the three man-panel led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, dismissed the appeal as lacking in merit, while affirming Justice Shagari's judgment.

The charge against the alleged drug merchants, read: "That you (1) Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, Female, Adult of No 27, Adebule Street, off Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State and (2) Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Ariket, Funmilola Ogundipe on or about the 23rd February 2017, conspired to Export 1.595 kilogrammes of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

"That you, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Ariket, Funmilola Ogundipe on or about the 24th February 2017, aided one Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi to Export 1.595 kilogrammes of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

"That you Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Ariket, Funmilola Ogundipe on or about the 24 February 2017, procured one Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi to Export 1.595 kilogrammes of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

"That you Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, Female, Adult, of No 27, Adebule Street, Off Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State on or about the 24th February 2017 without lawful authority, knowingly possessed 1.595 kilogrammes of Cocaine, a Narcotic Drug, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

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