A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced 60-year-old Lagos socialite and businesswoman, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, to 45 years in prison for her involvement in cocaine trafficking.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the judgment following a legal battle that stemmed from an investigation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) dating back to 2017.

Ogbuaya was convicted on three counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession and illegal exportation of 1.595 kilogrammes of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

The court imposed a 15-year prison term on each of the three counts. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Ogbuaya will effectively serve 15 years in prison, rather than 45 years.

The court also ordered that the period she has already spent in custody since her arrest on May 19, 2017, be deducted from the sentence.

How the Case Began

The prosecution's case followed the arrest of Ogbuaya's co-defendant, Odeyemi Omolara, who was intercepted at the airport in 2017 while attempting to export cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

According to the case presented before the court, Omolara confessed that Ogbuaya supplied the narcotics and drove her to the airport.

Omolara subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The conviction brings to an end a case that has attracted considerable public attention, particularly because of Ogbuaya's profile as a Lagos socialite.

The sentencing reportedly came only days after Ogbuaya celebrated her 60th birthday in Lagos in an elaborate ceremony that attracted attention on social media.

The case highlights the NDLEA's continued prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in international drug trafficking and the severe penalties attached to trafficking offences under Nigerian law.