Court Jails Lagos Socialite 45 Years for Attempted Cocaine Export

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a Lagos-based socialite, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, to 45 years imprisonment for attempting to export 1.595 kilogrammes of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

The trial judge, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, handed down the sentence after finding her guilty on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and illegal exportation of narcotic drugs.

The court imposed 15 years imprisonment on each count but ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve 15 years, effective from May 19, 2017 — the date of her arrest.

Ariket was prosecuted under a charge marked FHC/L/124c/2017, which alleged that she conspired with others, including one Omolara, to traffic cocaine out of Nigeria.

The co-accused was arrested on February 23, 2017, during passenger clearance at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board an Egypt Air flight to Saudi Arabia. Upon arrest, she reportedly implicated Ariket as the supplier of the illicit drug.

The co-defendant had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted in 2017.

During the trial, prosecution witnesses, including the arresting officer, told the court that the co-accused consistently maintained that Ariket provided the bag containing the narcotics.

However, in her defence, Ariket denied involvement, stating that she only knew the co-accused as an acquaintance who had sought financial assistance and a ride to the airport.

She maintained that she was unaware of any illicit substance and only became aware of the arrest after officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided her residence.

After reviewing the evidence, Justice Dipeolu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted her accordingly.

The offences contravene provisions of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.