By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Lagos socialite, Mrs. Funmilola Ariket Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, and her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolola, currently serving 25 years jail-term for drug trafficking were on Tuesday re-arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The two defendants who had other names as Funmilola Ogundipe and Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi respectively, were re-arraigned before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu, on a four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The duo were first arraigned before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometimes in 2017, on a five count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of prohibited drug, and attempt to export the said prohibited drug to Saudi Arabia.
Odeyemi Omolara, who also bears Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi had pleaded guilty and was convicted and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by Justice Rabiu Shagari while Mrs. Funmilola Ariket Ogbuaya maintained her not guilty stance and her trial commenced.
Specifically, while the convicted Odeyemi Omolara was arraigned on the charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, Funmilola Ariket was arraigned on the charges of conspiracy, aiding, abetting and procuring the convict for the purpose of trafficking the prohibited drug. They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and they were all admitted to bail on various terms by the court.
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However, while the trial lasted, Odeyemi Omolara informed the court of her intention to change her plea, which was granted by the court. Upon the re-reading of the charge, she pleaded guilty to the charge of attempt to illegally export the prohibited drug to Saudi-Arabia. She was then convicted and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
However, dissatisfied with the Justice Shagari’s judgement, the convict through her counsel, appealed her conviction. But 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 at the Court of Appeal led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit, and affirmed Justice Shagari’s judgement.
However, eight years after their first arraignment, both the socialite Ariket and her convicted co-conspirator, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, were re-arraigned before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu on four counts charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of the prohibited drugs, aiding and abetting and procuring of the convict to possessed the drug.
While the convict, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, pleaded guilty to the charges, the socialite, Ariket, denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, asked the court for the short date, to present the exhibit for the review of facts against the convict.
He also pleaded with the court to remand the socialite, Ariket, pending the hearing and determination of the charge
However, , counsel to the Lagos socialite, Yakubu Galadima, told the court that he had filed his client bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor. He added that he was just served with the prosecutor’s counter affidavit to the bail application.
Galadima therefore, pleaded with the court to release the socialite to him pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.
Meanwhile, Justice Dipeolu, while acceding to Galadima’s request, by releasing the socialite to him, adjourned till March 15, for hearing of the bail application.
Charges against the duo read: “That you Odeyemi Omolara a.k.a Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, Female, Adult of No. 27 Adebule Street, Off Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos State and Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a Ariket, Funmilola Ogundipe on 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 Kilogrames 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 Kilogrames 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 24” 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.”