Alleged Drug Trafficking: Lagos Socialite, Ariket, Re-arraigned, As Court Convicts Friend

Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya

A Lagos-based socialite, Mrs Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, alongside her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolola, who is currently serving a 25-year-jail-term for drug trafficking, were on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, rearraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

They were re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu

Odeyemi Omolola

The duo, who are also known as Funmilola Ogundipe and Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi respectively, were re-arraigned on four count-charge of conspiracy, Unlawful possession, aiding and abetting and attempting to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

It would be recalled that they were first arraigned before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometime in 2017 on a five-count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of a banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia.

Especially, while the convicted Odeyemi Omolara was arraigned on the charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of the banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, the Lagos socialite, Ariket, was arraigned on the charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting and procuring the convict for trafficking the prohibited drug. 

They had pleaded not guilty to the charge and were admitted to bail on various terms by the court.

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

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 was consequently sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

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

However, the 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 its judgment, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, dismissed the appeal as lacking in merit, while affirming Justice Shagari’s judgment.

But almost eight years after their first arraignment, both the socialite, Ariket and her convicted conspirator, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, were re-arraigned on four counts charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of the prohibited drugs, aiding and abetting and procuring of the convict to possess the drug before Justice Dipeolu.

While the convict, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, pleaded guilty to the charge, the socialite, Ariket, denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As a result of their plea, the prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, asked the court for a short date to present the exhibit for the review of facts against the convict.

He also pleaded with the court to remand the socialite, Ariket, pending the hearing and determination of the charge.

But the lawyer for the socialite, Yakubu Galadima, hinted to the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and the same had been served on the prosecutor, adding that he was just served with the prosecutor’s counter affidavit to the bail application.

Therefore, Galadima prayed to the judge to release the socialite to him pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.

In granting Galadima’s request, Justice Dipeolu adjourned until March 15, for the hearing of the bail application.

The charge against the duo read: “That you Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, Female, Adult of No. 27, Adebule Street, Off Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State and 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 Kilogrames 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 procured one Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi to Export 1.595 Kilogrames 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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