Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced a Lagos-based socialite and drug kingpin, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, alias Ariket, to 45 years imprisonment for unlawful exportation of 1.595 kilogrammes of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The judge handed down 15 years on each of three counts of conspiracy, possession and illegal exportation of cocaine, to run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve 15 years effective from May 19, 2017, her date of arrest.
The court had earlier convicted Ogbuaya on all counts but adjourned sentencing on her counsel’s request.
The case, marked FHC/L/124C/2017, arose from the February 23, 2017 arrest of her co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara, alias Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Omolara, who pleaded guilty and got 25 years from Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari (now Court of Appeal Justice), confessed during interrogation that Ogbuaya supplied the cocaine.
Prosecution witnesses, including arresting officer Iyabode Shonibare, testified that Omolara raised an alarm on arrest, shouting: “Arike has killed me.”
A security guard at Ogbuaya’s residence, Aliyu, said Omolara spent the night there a day before arrest, with unknown persons delivering the drug bag earlier, and Ogbuaya driving her to the airport.
Ogbuaya admitted knowing Omolara but denied involvement, claiming she only gave her N10,000 for financial aid and dropped her at the airport en route to Benin Republic.
Justice Dipeolu found her guilty after reviewing evidence, rejecting her defence.
Defence counsel Yakubu Galadima pleaded for mercy, citing her status as first-time offender, remorse and dependents, but the court applied the law.
