RAJAB 11 1430 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY, 3 2009.
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Court jails 2 for dealing in Indian hemp
The Federal High Court of in Ado- Ekiti on Wednesday sentenced two persons, Ajayi Akinwumi and Suleiman Saadu, to prison for trading in Indian hemp.
Justice Ambrose Allagoa sentenced Akinwumi to six months’ imprisonment without an option of fine while Saadu was sentenced to one month jail with an option of N300,000 fine.
The prosecution counsel, Nr Lambert Nor, told the court that Akinwumi, 25, was arrested on Nov. 14, 2008 at Odo-Owa, Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, with 455.3kg of Indian hemp.
He said that Saadu, 26, was also arrested on March 22 at Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti for being in possession of 680 kg of Indian hemp.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence when the charges were read to them.
Nor told the court that the offence of Akinwumi and Saadu was punishable under Section 14, NDLEA Act, Cap 30, Law of the Federation 2004 as amended.
He said that the evidence before the court proved that the accused persons were actually involved in the illicit trade in Indian hemp.
He urged the court to sanction them in line with the provisions of Section 14 of the NDLEA Act.
The judge said that the court had no option than to sentence the duo, as the prosecution had proved the charges levelled against them beyond reasonable doubt.
