Lagos Socialite Ogbuaya Gets 45 Years Jail For Cocaine Trafficking

A prominent Lagos socialite, Funmilayo ArikeOgbuaya, known as Ariket, has received a 45-year prison sentence for her role in exporting 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Lagos High Court, Ikoyi delivered the verdict on Thursday, imposing 15-year terms for each of the three charges: conspiracy, possession, and illegal exportation of cocaine.

These sentences are to run concurrently, effective from her arrest date of May 19, 2017.

Ogbuaya's conviction followed an earlier guilty finding, with sentencing delayed at her counsel's request.

The case, FHC/L/124C/2017, originated from the February 23, 2017, arrest of her co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara (aka Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi), at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Omolara, who subsequently received a 25-year sentence after pleading guilty, implicated Ogbuaya as the cocaine supplier.

Throughout the trial, compelling evidence emerged. Arresting officer Iyabode Shonibare testified that Omolara exclaimed, "Arike has killed me," upon apprehension and consistently maintained Ogbuaya provided the drug-laden bag.

A security guard at Ogbuaya's residence corroborated Omolara's overnight stay before her arrest, the delivery of the illicit bag, and Ogbuaya personally driving Omolara to the airport.

In her defense, Ogbuaya acknowledged knowing Omolara but denied drug involvement, claiming she only gave Omolara N10,000 for financial assistance and dropped her at the airport for her own trip to Benin, unaware of any drugs.

Justice Dipeolu, however, found her guilty on all counts after reviewing the evidence. Despite defence counsel Yakubu Galadima's plea for leniency, citing her as a first-time offender with dependents, the court proceeded with the statutory sentencing.