Justice Deinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a Lagos Socialite, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, to 15 years imprisonment, for drug trafficking offences.
Ogbuaya who is popularly refered to as Ariket in social circle, is being convicted and sentenced nine years after her co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolara, who also bears Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
Both Ariket and Omolara 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 the banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia.
While the convicted Omolara, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of the banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, Arike, who also bears Mrs. Funmilola Ogundipe, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and procuring the convicted Omolara to trafficked the prohibited drug.
They both initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail on various terms by the court. However, midway to the trial, the convict, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, informed the court of her intention to change her plea, which was granted by the court.
Upon re-reading the charge, she pleaded guilty to the charge of attempt to illegally export the prohibited drug to Saudi Arabia, and she was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
Dissatisfied with Justice Shagari’s judgment, the convict, through her lawyer, appealed her conviction. But her appeal was dismissed on February 26, 2021, after affirming Justice Shagari’s judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, or lacking in merit.
On April 24, 2024, both the socialite, Arike alongside convicted Odeyemi Omolola, were again re-arraigned on alleged conspiracy, aiding and abetting. The allegations white convict admitted and pleaded guilty to, but Ariket maintained her innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
She was again sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. However, Justice Dipeolu ruled that the 15 years jail term should run concurrently with the 25 years jail-term.
Following the conviction of Omolara, the NDLEA through its prosecutor, Barrister Abu Ibrahim, commenced the Ariket’s trial, and nine witnesses were called and several documentary exhibits alongside bulk of the prohibited drugs were tendered and admitted by the court.
Upon conclusion of the prosecution’s case, Arike, instead of opening her defence, opted for No-Case-Submission.
However, on February 26, 2025, both the prosecution and defence argued and adopted briefs on the No-Case-Submission.
On April 24, 2025, Justice Dipeolu dismissed the no case submission, and ordered the Socialite to open her defence.
In dismissing the no case submission Justice Dipeolu held that: “from the evidence adduced by the Prosecution witness one to nine, a prima facie case has been established against the defendant. There is a need for the defendant to open her defence against the charges against her.”
Upon conclusion of parties case, they both filed argued and adopted their written addresses, hence the court adjourned to yesterday, April 28, 2026, for judgment.
At the resumed judgment of the matter on Tuesday, Justice Dipeolu reading through all arguments canvased by the parties, upheld all issues raised by the prosecution. Consequently, pronounced the socialite, Ariket guilty of conspiracy, aiding and abetting and convicted her on the same.
The judge however ruled that the socialite’s jail-term commences from May 19, 2017.
Charges against the socialite and her convicted partner reads: “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 about the 23rd February 2017 conspired to Export 1.595 Kilograms 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.”
