Police arraign five over Indian hemp possession in Ekiti

The Ekiti Police Command on Thursday, arraigned five defendants at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged possession of Indian hemp.

The defendants – Omotoso Opeyemi, 29, Folorunso Emmanuel, 28, Lamidi Alaba, 42, Sanmi Ojo, 38, and Babatunde Abimbola, 26 – are facing a one-count charge of possession of Indian hemp.

The police prosecutor, Insp Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Aug. 12 at about 8.00 a.m. in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendants had in their possession weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and illicit drugs.

Adejare said that the offence contravened Section 5(b) of the Indian Hemp Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Awe, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Awosika, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

Awosika thereafter adjourned the case until October 15 for hearing.