Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria: Ten individuals were arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over alleged possession of Indian hemp and conduct likely to breach public peace.
The defendants are: Omotosho Tobi, 24; Joseph Winner, 26; Mojees Totolaye, 23; Nifemi Ogunfunminiyi, 22; Enase Ezekiel, 20; Olusola Oluwafemi, 25; Oyeniyi Olawale, 20; David Peters, 22; Timilehin Ogunwale, 21; and Adewole Asaolu, 23.
They are facing a two-count charge of unlawful possession of Indian hemp and breach of the peace.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Akinwale Oriyomi told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Sept. 9 at about 5.30 a.m. at Ijadu Area, Ado-Ekiti.
He alleged that the defendants were unlawfully in possession of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
“The defendants conducted themselves in public in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by smoking and creating unrest,” he said.
According to him, the offences contravene Section 5(b) of the Indian Hemp Act, Laws of the Federation (LFN) 2004, and Section 181(2) of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.
The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Abiola, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, assuring that they would not abscond.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.
Adeosun added that the surety must present evidence of two years’ tax clearance. He adjourned the case until Oct. 16 for a hearing.