A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a Lagos socialite, Mrs Funmilola Ogbuaya, widely known in elite circles as “Ariket,” to 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy as well as aiding and abetting the trafficking of cocaine.

The judgment marks a significant development nearly nine years after her accomplice, Odeyemi Omolara, also identified as Ariyo Olabisi, was earlier sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for her involvement in the same illicit drug operation.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, declared that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against Ogbuaya beyond reasonable doubt after carefully considering the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defence.

The court found her guilty of conspiracy, aiding, and abetting the attempted unlawful exportation of 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia. In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu stated, “The prosecution has proved all the essential ingredients of the offences charged against the convict.”

Following the conviction, the judge imposed a 15-year prison sentence on Ogbuaya. However, he ruled that the sentence would run concurrently with the earlier 25-year jail term already handed down in connection with the case. The court further directed that the sentence should take effect from May 19, 2017.

The case originated in 2017 when both Ogbuaya and Omolara were arraigned before Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal. They were charged on a five-count charge that included conspiracy, unlawful possession of cocaine, aiding and abetting, and the attempted exportation of the prohibited substance.

While Omolara faced charges bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and attempted exportation of cocaine, Ogbuaya was specifically accused of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, as well as procuring Omolara to traffic the narcotic substance.

At the initial stage of the trial, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail under varying conditions. However, proceedings took a turn midway through the trial when Omolara notified the court of her intention to change her plea.

Upon a re-reading of the charges, Omolara pleaded guilty to attempting to illegally export cocaine to Saudi Arabia. Consequently, Justice Rabiu-Shagari sentenced her to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, Omolara approached the Court of Appeal to challenge her conviction. However, her appeal was dismissed on February 26, 2021. A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, upheld the decision of the lower court and ruled that the appeal lacked merit.

Following the conclusion of Omolara’s case, the prosecution, led by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abu Ibrahim, continued with Ogbuaya’s trial. During the proceedings, the prosecution called nine witnesses and presented several documentary exhibits, including the seized cocaine, all of which were admitted as evidence by the court.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, Ogbuaya chose not to immediately present a defence but instead filed a no-case submission. During arguments on February 26, 2025, her counsel urged the court to discharge her, contending that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against her.

However, in a ruling delivered on April 24, 2025, Justice Dipeolu dismissed the application, affirming that the prosecution had established sufficient grounds requiring the defendant to respond to the charges. In his words, “From the evidence adduced by prosecution witnesses 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.”

Following the dismissal of the no-case submission, Ogbuaya proceeded to open her defence. Thereafter, both the prosecution and defence filed and adopted their final written addresses, after which the matter was adjourned to April 28, 2026, for judgment.

In delivering the final verdict, Justice Dipeolu upheld the submissions of the prosecution and found Ogbuaya guilty as charged. Although the conviction was pronounced earlier, her sentencing was delivered on Wednesday.

Details of the charges revealed that both Ogbuaya and Omolara conspired on February 23, 2017, to export 1.595 kilograms of cocaine, an offence punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act. Ogbuaya was further accused of aiding and procuring Omolara to export the narcotic substance on February 24, 2017, while Omolara also faced an additional count of unlawful possession of cocaine, contrary to Section 19 of the same Act.