Court Sentences 64-Yr-Old Woman To 25 Years Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking

Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of Federal High Court, Lagos has on Wednesday sentenced  a 64-year-old woman, Odeyemi Omolola to 25 years imprisonment for attempting to export 1.595 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

The convict had been arraigned before the judge alongside a Lagos socialite, Funmilola Ogbuaya, alias Ariket, who was said to be at large.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had on May 12 secured an order forfeiting Ariket’s nine properties in Lagos pending when she would submit herself for trial.

Omolola, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy and drug trafficking pressed against her and Ariket, changed her plea on Wednesday.

At the Wednesday’s proceedings, Omolola’s lawyer, Mr. King Wilson, informed the court of his client’s intention to change her plea, particularly on the fourth count, bordering on attempt to export 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia.

Justice Rabiu-Shagari had then ordered that the particular count should be read afresh to Omolola.

The NDLEA, in the count, told the court that Omolola, who also held out herself as Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi, was found in possession of 1.595kg of cocaine on February 24, 2017 “at the  at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance of passengers of Egypt Air Flight to Saudi Arabia, at the Egypt Air check-in counter.”

The anti-narcotic agency said Omolola acted contrary to Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and was liable to be punished under the same law.

Upon reading the charge to her, Omolola pleaded guilty following which the NDLEA prosecutor, Ibrahim Abu, reviewed the facts of the case.

While reviewing the facts of the case, Abu tendered as exhibits the English and Yoruba versions of five confessional statements volunteered by Omolola to the NDLEA.

The prosecutor also tendered an ECOWAS passport with number A50324236; a certificate of test analysis; a drug analysis report; an Egypt Air ticket; a large envelope; and two transparent evidence pouches where some of the seized cocaine was packaged.

The court admitted the exhibits in evidence against Omolola and subsequently convicted her based on the evidences.

In sentencing the convict, Justice Rabiu-Shagari held, “I have listened carefully to the submission of the defendant’s counsel; it’s true that sentence is not for punitive but reformatory purpose and to serve as a deterrent to others.

“Consequently, the convict is hereby sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment, starting from when she was first arrested.”

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