Lagos socialite, Mrs Fumilola Arike Ogbuaya a.k.a. Arike Fumilola Ogundipe who was implicated in a case of unlawful exportation of 1.595kg of cocaine to Saudi Arabia in February 2017 and recently declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had reported at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos.
The Agency had also secured an interim forfeiture order for several assets worth billion of naira traced to Mrs Fumilola.
The suspected drug kingpin reported at the NDLEA office at the weekend in response to the manhunt organised for her in relation to the investigation of one Odeyemi Omolara Morayo a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi who was caught with cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia.
Subsequently, the Lagos residence of Mrs Arike Fumilola Ogundipe was traced by a team of investigators but she was not at home. The suspect for several months ignored invitation from the Agency requesting her to clear herself in an ongoing cocaine investigation.
The Agency is working for a final forfeiture order on the landed properties worth several billions of naira traced to Mrs Ogundipe 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 investigations. She hails from Ilesa, Osun State.
The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) assured that investigation would be diligently pursued.
“We are glad that she presented herself for investigation. The NDLEA remain committed to her statutory functions in the campaign against drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse. We are also working to prevent drug cartels from enjoying the proceeds of illicit drugs. Sequel to the investigation of assets traced to the suspect, the Agency has secured an interim forfeiture while efforts are ongoing to get a final forfeiture”.
The NDLEA boss noted that asset forfeiture is an important requirement in the NDLEA Act and assured that no stone would be left unturned in the race to incapacitate drug traffickers. (LIB)