Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Lagos-based socialite and convicted drug trafficker, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, to 45 years imprisonment for exporting 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The court handed her 15 years each on three counts conspiracy, possession, and unlawful exportation of cocaine. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning she will serve an effective 15-year term starting from May 19, 2017, the date of her arrest.
Ogbuaya was found guilty following a trial linked to the arrest of her co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara (also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in February 2017.
Omolara reportedly confessed that Ogbuaya supplied the drugs and had earlier pleaded guilty, receiving a 25-year prison sentence from Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari. During the proceedings, prosecution witnesses detailed how the operation was executed.
Arresting officer Iyabode Shonibare told the court that Omolara cried out during her arrest, accusing “Arike” of setting her up. Other testimonies also connected Ogbuaya to the drug consignment.
A security guard at Ogbuaya’s residence testified that Omolara spent the night before her arrest at the house and that Ogbuaya personally drove her to the airport. He further stated that the bag used for trafficking was delivered earlier by unidentified individuals.
In her defence, Ogbuaya admitted knowing Omolara but denied involvement in drug trafficking, claiming she only gave her N10,000 for assistance and was unaware of any illicit activity despite taking her to the airport on the day of the arrest.
Her lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, pleaded for leniency, describing her as a first-time offender with dependents. However, the court upheld her conviction on all counts in line with the law.
Elijah Adeyemi
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