In the ongoing trial of a socialite, Mrs. Funmilayo Arike Ogbuanya popularly called Ariket, who is standing trial for alleged drug trafficking, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned for adoption of ‘no case’ submission.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who presided over the court, fixed the date for parties to adopt their processes on No Case Submission.
Ariket elected to file no case submission upon closing of prosecuting agency, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) case.
Ariket is being tried before the court by the NDLEA on alleged conspiracy, unlawful dealing in 1.595 kilograms of cocaine and procuring of one Odeyemi Omolara, aka, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, to export the said drug to Saudi Arabia.
She had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ariket, who also bears Funmilola Ogundipe, alongside her alleged convicted co-conspirator, Mrs. Odeyemi Omolola, aka, Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, were re-arraigned before Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu of a Federal High Court Lagos, on four counts 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 Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari (now a Court of Appeal Judge) sometimes in 2017, on the same counts charge.
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 admitted the allegations and pleaded guilty to two of the initial five count charge and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, Ariket maintain her not guilty plea.
Dissatisfied with Justice Shagari’s verdict, the convict through her lawyer, appealed her conviction and NDLEA through it’s lawyer, Abu Ibrahim, also filed a cross-appeal and urged the court to affirm the convict’s conviction.
However, the three-man appeal, led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, on February 26, 2021, affirmed Justice Shagari’s verdict and dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit,
The development which opened door for the continued trial of the socialite, Ariket.
Upon taking over of the case file by Justice Dipeolu, Ariket and her alleged accomplice, Omolara who is currently serving 25 years jail-term, were again re-arraigned trafficking in hard drug.
But the convicted Omolara pleaded guilty to the charge and she was again given another 15 years jail-term. But Justice Dipeolu in his judgment ordered that the 15 years jail-term will run concurrently with the 25 years.
The judge also ordered the accelerated trial of the socialite, Ariket.
At the last hearing of the case, the prosecuting agency, the NDLEA called it’s last witness in Ariket’s trial to close it’s case.
The witness, Ogar James, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, vividly gave accounts of how Ariket and her convicted accomplices, Odeyemi Omolara, were arrested with the prohibited drug.
Parts of the witness evidence before the court reads: “the defendant (Odeyemi Omolara) was arrested in the presence of Iyabo Sonibare an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotic (ASN) and in the presence of one late bankube.
“The bag that was intercepted containing a whitish substance. And upon the arrest of the defendant, the defendant and the traveling bag were moved to NDLEA’s legal seal, which served as liaison office. Later the defendant and the bag were moved to NDLEA’s Joint Task Force (JTF) at NAHCO, on reaching there, the white substance were handed to Okonjo Augustine, a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotic (DSN).
“The Exhibit Officer conducted a test on the powder and it proved to be cocaine and weighed 1.959kg
“The Exhibit Officer provided three forms which the defendant (Odeyemi Omolara) wrote her name, signed and trump printed and another officer wrote her name and signed.
“The Exhibit Officer took sample of the drug 5 grams and labeled for another forensic text and the bulk of Exhibit was packed and sealed in another transparent pouch. And on March 27, 2017, moved the sample collected to another laboratory for analysis.
“The defendant in her confessional statement, she mentioned that one Ariket funmilayo Ogbuaya, gave her the drug. She gave her phone number, House address.
“On the March 15, 2017, a team of NDLEA operatives led by one Superintendent of Narcotic Yakubu Umaru, to Ariket resident, we got there at 4.10 am, she was not at home but we met Aliyu Megida, and a house help and the driver.
“In her house, we conducted a search and we found diary, tickets, jotter.
“In the NDLEA office, I went to the defendant and showed her the megade who said the defendant slept in their house and left in the morning.
“The househelp also said she saw the woman in their home and that she even served her but she didn’t know her name.
“Juliet (Ariket’s daughter), also said she saw her but she didn’t know her name. Juliet also said she went to the airport with her mother and the woman but she didn’t know her name.”
The witness further told the court that: “investigation revealed that the travelling bag the brown MP4 which the defendant traveled with was given to her by Ariket.
“Investigation also revealed that when she arrived at Ariket house, she didn’t carry any bag.
“Investigation also revealed that about 4 days to February 23, 2017, when the defendant arrived at Ariket house, two men came to Ariket hour and brought MP4 bag, and it was megade that took the bag. But when the two men were leaving they didn’t go with the bags.
“Investigation also revealed that on February 24, 2017, Ariket put the bag at the back of the car and drove to the airport and after dropping the defendant, she drove back home and dropped her daughter.
“Before then she called one Christiana ibitoye and drove out the Toyota.
“Investigation also revealed that she called her daughter on phone to instruct her that if anybody come looking for her she should tell the person that she had traveled to the North, and that was exactly what her daughter said. But the maigade said madam is not at home but she didn’t travel and her daughter also said same.
“Investigation revealed that Ariket was nowhere to be found until when she was declared wanted still she didn’t show up, not until when her lawyer brought her to NDLEA.”
The witness, upon conclusion of his evidence, was cross-examined by Ariket’s lawyer, Yakubu Galadima.
Based on the closing of prosecution’s case, Ariket through her lawyer, Galadima, informed the court that she will file a no case submission instead of opening her defence on the allegations.
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu adjourned that matter to December 4, for adoption of addresses on the no case submission.
Charges against the dou 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 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 24th 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.”
