A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed February 13, 2026, for judgment in the alleged drug trafficking case instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against a socialite, Mrs Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu adjourned the matter for judgment after counsel to the NDLEA, Mr Abu Ibrahim, and defence counsel, Mr Yakubu Galadima, adopted their respective final written addresses.
Ariket is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession, and attempt to export 1.595 kilogrammes of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The defendant, also known as Funmilola Ogundipe, was re-arraigned on April 24, 2024, alongside her alleged co-conspirator, Odeyemi Omolara, who is already serving a 25-year jail term for drug trafficking.
Both defendants were first arraigned in 2017 before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of a banned drug, and attempt to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
While Ariket was charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and procuring Omolara for drug trafficking, Omolara, also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, was charged with conspiracy, unlawful possession, and attempt to export cocaine.
At the initial arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.
However, during the trial, Omolara applied to change her plea and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to export cocaine, for which she was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
Her appeal against the conviction was dismissed on February 26, 2021, by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, which held that the appeal lacked merit.
Nearly a decade after their first arraignment, both defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Dipeolu on the same four-count charge. Omolara again pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an additional 15 years imprisonment, to run concurrently with her earlier sentence.
During Ariket’s trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses and tendered several exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence filed a no-case submission, which was dismissed by the court. Justice Dipeolu held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, requiring the defendant to open her defence.
Ariket subsequently testified in her defence, alongside her daughter, Oluwadunmininu Ogbuaya, as the second defence witness.
Following the adoption of final written addresses by both parties last Thursday, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to February 13, 2026, for judgment.
