Arike is standing trial on four charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting, and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine Saliva to Saudi Arabia.
The Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, April 7, dismissed the no-case-submission filed by a Lagos socialite, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, who is standing trial on drug trafficking charges.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu in the ruling said that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the socialite.
Arike is standing trial on four charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting, and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of Cocaine Saliva to Saudi Arabia.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had, on April 24, 2024, re-arraigned Arike alongside her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolola, who is currently serving 25 jail term for drug trafficking.
They were first arraigned before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometime in 2017 on a five-count charge of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of the banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia.
Odeyemi Omolara, now convicted, was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of the banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia was a co-defendant with Arike, who was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and procuring the convict for trafficking the prohibited drug.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail on various terms by the court.
However, midway to the trial, the convict, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, informed the court of her intention to change her plea, which was granted by the court.
Read Also: Court restrains Abia govt from appointing new judges
Upon re-reading the charge, she pleaded guilty to the charge of attempt to illegally export the prohibited drug to Saudi Arabia, and she was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
Dissatisfied with Justice Shagari’s judgment, the convict, through her lawyer, appealed her conviction. But her appeal was dismissed on February 26, 2021, after affirming Justice Shagari’s judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, or lacking in merit.
But almost nine years after their first arraignment, both the socialite, Arike and her convicted conspirator, Olabisi, were re-arraigned on the same four counts charge, before Justice Deinde Dipeolu.
While the convict, Olabisi, pleaded guilty to the charges, the socialite, Ariket, again denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, reviewed of facts of the charges, as well as tendered all exhibits in the case against the convict.
He also pleaded with the court to remand the socialite, Ariket, pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
However, Ariket’s lawyer Yakubu Galadima, told the court that he had filed his client’s bail application and same has been served on the prosecutor.
Galadima also pleaded with the court to release the socialite to him pending the hearing and determination of the bail application.
During Ariket’s trial, the prosecutor, Barrister Ibrahim, called nine witnesses as well, tendered several documentary exhibits.
Upon conclusion of the prosecutor’s case, Arike, instead of opening her defence, opted for No-Case-Submission.
However, on February 26, 2025, both the prosecution and defence argued and adopted briefs on the No-Case-Submission. While the judge fixed today for ruling on their submissions.
Ruling on the No-Case-Submission today, Justice Dipeolu, after reading through all the arguments canvassed by the parties, held that: “From the evidence adduced by the Prosecution witness one to nine, a prima facie case has been established against the defendant. There is a need for the defendant to open her defence against the charges against her.”
Consequently, the judge dismissed the defendant’s no-case submission.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to April 29 for the defendant to open her defence.
Charges against the socialite and her convicted partner reads: “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 Kilograms 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.”
