The Police on Tuesday arraigned a 23-year-old man, Moses Joshua, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged possession of Indian hemp.The defendant, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a one-count charge of possession of Indian hemp.
The prosecutor, Insp Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Jan. 17, at about 7 a.m. at Oke Ureje, Ado-Ekiti.Okunade said the Police following a tip off, found weeds suspected to be Indian hemp in the possession of the defendant.He said the offence contravenes Section 5(b) of the Indian hemp Act, 1966.The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor asked the court for adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.Counsel to the defendant, Miss Eyitayo Oni, urged the court to grant her client bail and promised that the defendant would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adedayo Oyebanji, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.Oyebanji said the surety must provide evidence of landed property.He adjourned the case until Feb. 25, for hearing. (NAN)