Ladipo Sanusi/
Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday, sentenced 64 years old Odeyemi Omolola to 25 years imprisonment for illicit drug trafficking.
Omolola was charged before the court alongside her alleged accomplice and lagos socialite, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, known in social circles as Ariket, for attempting to export 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The court sentenced the convict, who is also known as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, after she change her plea in an amended five counts charge.
The convict was arraigned on three counts charge of conspiracy, unlawful possession of banned drug, and attempt to export the said banned drug to Saudi Arabia, while Ariket is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, and aiding and abetting the crime. She was also accused of procuring the said banned drug for the convict.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, are contrary to sections 14(b), 11(b) and 19 of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws if the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The two accused persons had pleaded not guilty, when they were both arraigned before the court, in May.
However, at the resumed trial of the two accused persons, on Wednesday, the convict, through her lawyer, Mr. King Wilson, informed the court of her intention to change her plea to guilty, particularly, on count four of the charge, which bothered on attempt to export 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
Her request was granted by the presiding judge, who ordered that the charge be read to her again
After the charge was reread and the convict had pleaded guilty, the prosecutor urged the court to pronounce her guilty as charged. He also asked the court’s permission to review the facts of the case against her and to tender some exhibits she was arrested with.
Some of the exhibits tendered by the prosecutor include, the convict’s five statements in English and Yoruba, ECOWAS traveling passport with number A50324236, certificate of test analysis, drug analysis report, Egypt Air ticket, a large envelope and two transparent evidence pouches containing some of the seized cocaine. They were, subsequently, addmitted as exhibits A to L1 by the court.
The convict’s lawyer, thereafter, attempted to convince the court to suspend the pronouncement of sentence, but the prosecutor opposed the plea, after citing several authorities.
In sentencing the convict, Justice Rabiu-Shagari said: “I have listened carefully to the defendant’s counsel; it is true that the sentence is not for punitive but refomatory purpose and to serve as deterrent to others. Consequently, the convict is, hereby, sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, starting from the day she was first arrested.”
The judge also ordered that the ECOWAS passport and the Egypt Air ticket be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
After the convict’s arrest, nine landed properties belonging to Ariket, alleged to be the mastermind of a drug smuggling syndicate, were temporarily seized by the government.
Ariket later surrendered herself to NDLEA, after which she was arraigned alongside the convict, in an amended charge marked: FHC/L/124c/2017.
The properties she temporarily forfeited to the government include: 146, Idimu Road, Alimosho, Lagos; 235, Ikotun-Idimu Road, Ikotun, Lagos; 18, Olayiwola Shittu Street, Abaranje, Ikotun and 13B, Ladipo Kuku, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.
Others include: 8, Olufemi Avenue, Omiasoro, Ilesa, Ilesa East LGA, Osun State; 6, Hakeem-One, Momoh Close, Governor’s Road, Ikotun; a plot of land at council area, Cele Bus stop, Idimu-Ikotun and a plot of land along Papalanto-Shagamu Road, Omu-Penpe Village, Obafemi-Owode LGA, Ogun State.
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