Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced a Lagos socialite, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, also known as Ariket, to 45 years in prison for trafficking cocaine.
The conviction followed her involvement in the unlawful exportation of 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The court imposed 15 years imprisonment on each of the three counts – conspiracy, possession, and illegal exportation of cocaine— but ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
This means she will serve an effective term of 15 years starting from May 19, 2017, the date of her arrest.
The case originated from the arrest of her co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara, also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in February 2017.
During interrogation, Omolara reportedly identified Ogbuaya as the supplier of the drugs.
Omolara had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Witnesses during the trial detailed how the operation was carried out, including testimony that the co-defendant raised an alarm at the point of arrest and consistently maintained that the drugs were supplied by Ogbuaya.
A security guard attached to Ogbuaya’s residence also testified that the co-defendant stayed at her home prior to the trip and that she was later taken to the airport by Ogbuaya.
In her defence, Ogbuaya denied involvement, admitting only that she knew the co-defendant and had given her a small amount of money, as well as a ride to the airport.
However, after reviewing the evidence, the court found her guilty on all counts and sentenced her accordingly, despite pleas for leniency from her counsel.