Ayodele Olalere
A Federal High Court presided by Justice Deinde Dipeolu will, on April 7 decide the fate of a Lagos socialite, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket as the court will rule on a No-Case-submission filed by her over alleged offence of drug trafficking brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Ariket along her accomplice, Odeyemi Omolola who also bears Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi were first arraigned in 2017 before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court on a five count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of banned drug, and attempt to export the banned drug to Saudi Arabia.
Monsurat pleaded guilty to the offence of illegally exporting the prohibited drug to Saudi-Arabia, and she was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
In 2021, she appealed her sentence but the three man appeal panel led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit, and upheld the judgement of the lower court.
They were re-arraigned in 2024 before Justice Dipeolu on four count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting and attempting to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
Ariket, like the first arraignment pleaded not guilty to the offences while Monsurat again pleaded guilty.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, lawyer to NDLEA, Abu Ibrahim and the defendant’s lawyer, Yakubu Galadima, adopted their final written addresses on the No-Case-Submission filed by Ariket.
The judge thereafter adjourned till April 7 to decide on the No-Case-submission.