DRUG AGENCY ON THE HUNT FOR SOCIALITE OVER COCAINE TRAFFICKING

        
 …. Investigates assets worth several billions The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has organised a manhunt for a Lagos socialite and suspected drug baroness wanted in connection with cocaine trafficking. The suspect, Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya (a.k.a. Arike Fumilola Ogundipe) was implicated in a case of unlawful exportation of 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia in February 2017 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. 


         Several assets worth billion of naira traced to Mrs Fumilola are also currently under investigation by the Agency. NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport said that preliminary investigation into the arrest of one Odeyemi Omolara Morayo (a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi) implicated the Lagos socialite who have ignored invitation by the NDLEA. 

         
          The Lagos residence of Fumilola was traced by a team of investigators but she was not at home. Since the visit to her Lagos residence, she had not been to that house and had also not reported to the NDLEA office. The Agency is therefore investigating several landed properties worth several billions of naira traced to Fumilola in Lagos, Ogun and Osun States. The assets include Arike Plaza, some plots of land and buildings in strategic locations. 

          The Lagos socialite who is a distributor of alcoholic drinks is needed by the NDLEA in an ongoing investigation. She hails from Ilesa, Osun State. Impressed with the level of investigation in the ongoing case, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) has vowed to pursue the case to a logical conclusion and also trace all illicit drug proceeds. 
“The Agency is building capacity for elaborate investigation and this is a test case of pressing beyond a drug mule to the financiers of drug trafficking. We are determined to dislodge drug trafficking cartels and also trace their ill-gotten wealth which must be forfeited to the Federal Government”. 

           Abdallah called on members of the public with information as to the whereabouts of Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Arike Fumilola Ogundipe to report to the nearest NDLEA office. The NDLEA boss noted that asset forfeiture is an important requirement in the NDLEA Act and assured that no stone shall be left unturned in the race for total incapacitation of drug traffickers.