By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced one Mrs Odeyemi Omolara to 15 years imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu handed down the sentence on Omolara, a co-defendant with a Lagos based business woman and socialite, Mrs Funmilayo Arike Ogbuaya (a.k.a Ariket) in a drug case pending before the court.
Odeyemi Omolara who is currently serving a 25 years jail term slammed on her in June 2017 by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari after pleading guilty to some of the counts alleged in the charge, had last week decided to plead guilty to the remaining counts relating to her in the charge which she hitherto pleaded not guilty.
Consequent upon her change of plea to the remaining counts, the new trial judge found her guilty and sentenced her accordingly.
However, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu ruled that the 15 years jail term shall run concurrently with the ongoing 25 years sentence handed down on the convict since June 2017.
Recall that Justice Dipeolu had last week fixed Tuesday March 19 for conviction and sentencing, after Omolara who is the first defendant in a four count charge changed her plea from not guilty to guilty.
Counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abu Ibrahim reviewed the facts of the case.
Meanwhile, following the sentencing of Odeyemi Omolara who is the first defendant in the four count charge, the trial of Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, (a k.a Ariket) who had pleaded not guilty all this while had commenced before Justice Dipeolu.
At the commencement of trial on Tuesday NDLEA called five prosecution witnesses to testify in support of its case against Ariket Ogbuaya.
Testifying before the court, an operative of the NDLEA attached to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs Sonibare Soriyat Iyabode while giving evidence, told Justice Dipeolu that on February 24, 2017 during the check-in of Egypt Air at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja Lagos, when it was the turn of Odeyemi Omolara to be checked-in , the convict while placing her bag on the table for examination, said “my daughter there is nothing in my bag let me go”,
The witness said she however, insisted on checking the bag, adding that while checking the bag she noticed two
flatly packed nylon in the bag and when she brought them out , Odeyemi Omolara held her hands, placed her head on the checking table and said ” Ariket has killed me,” Ariket has finished me”
Shonibare said as the convict was being led away to the NDLEA legal seat, the only thing she was saying is Arike has killed me, Ariket has finished me.
Apart from the arresting officer, four other operatives of the anti-narcotic agency also testified as to the role they played while investigating the case.
Also recall that Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, alongside her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Mrs Odeyemi Omolola were re-arraigned on March on an amendment four counts charge.
The duo, who are also known as Funmilola Ogundipe and Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi respectively, were re-arraigned before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
They were first arraigned before Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometimes in 2017, on a five count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia.
While the convicted Odeyemi Omolara, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, Ariket, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting and procuring the convict for the purpose of trafficking the prohibited drug.
However, while Odeyemi Omolara pleaded guilty to two of the initial five count charge and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, Ariket maintained her not guilty plea.
Dissatisfied with Justice Shagari’s judgement, the convict through her counsel appealed her conviction.
However, NDLEA through its counsel, Abu Ibrahim, filed a counter to the appeal and urged the court to affirm the convict’s conviction.
Delivering judgement on the appeal, the three man-panel led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit, while affirmed Justice Shagari’s judgement.
Meanwhile, after almost eight years of their first arraignment, both the socialite, Ariket and her convicted conspirator, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, were re-arraigned on four counts amended charge bothering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of the prohibited drugs, aiding and abetting and procuring of the convict to possessed the drug, before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu.
While the convict, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, pleaded guilty to the charges, the socialite, Ariket, denied participating in the alleged crime and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Charges against the duo read: “That you (1) Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, Female, Adult of No. 27 Adebule Street, Off Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State and (2) Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a Ariket, Funmilola Ogundipe on or about the 23rd February 2017 conspired 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 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.”
Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu has adjourned the matter till May 7, 2024 for further trial of Mrs Funmilayo Arike Ogbuaya.
