Drug Trafficking Allegations: NDLEA Re-Arraigns Socialite Ariket of Lagos and Another

A Lagos socialite known as Ariket, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogundipe, has been re-arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on charges of drug trafficking.

She was charged with drug trafficking alongside her friend and suspected accomplice, Odeyemi Omolara, who is presently serving a 25-year jail sentence.

On a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession, aiding and abetting, and attempt to smuggle 1.595 kilograms of cocaine into Saudi Arabia, they entered a plea before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The two appeared before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari (now elevated to the Court of Appeal) for the first time in 2017.

They each entered not guilty pleas at the time to a five-count accusation of conspiracy and unlawful possession.

They were charged with five counts of conspiracy, unlawful possession of prohibited substances, and attempting to export the prohibited substance to Saudi Arabia. At the time, they both entered not guilty pleas. After that, the court granted them bail.

Odeyemi Omolara, better known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, was one of the defendants who chose to enter a guilty plea during the trial instead of a not guilty one. She later entered a guilty plea to trying to export the illegal drug to Saudi Arabia after the charge was read to her again, and the court sentenced her to 25 years in prison.

The convict appealed her conviction through her attorney because she was unhappy with Justice Shagari's ruling. The sentence was also upheld by a three-person panel of the Court of Appeal, which also rejected the appeal for being without merit.

It has been nearly eight years since their initial arraignment when they are re-arraigned.