Five defendants were on Thursday arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court by the Ekiti Police Command over alleged possession of Indian hemp.
Omotoso Opeyemi, 29, Folorunso Emmanuel, 28, Lamidi Alaba, 42, Sanmi Ojo, 38, and Babatunde Abimbola, 26, the defendants are charged with a one-count of possession of Indian hemp.
The police prosecutor, Insp Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendants committed the offense on Aug. 12 about 8.00 a.m. in Ado-Ekiti.
He claimed the defendants were in possession of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and illegal drugs.
Adejare said the offense was contrary to Section 5(b) of the Indian Hemp Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
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He urged the court to adjourn the case so he could study the case file and present his witnesses.
The defendants however pled not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Awe, urged the court to grant his clients bail, promising 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.
The case was adjourned by Awosika till the 15th of October for hearing.
