Court remands 5 for alleged Indian hemp trafficking

May 17, 2017 2:40 AM

Himinkaiye said that Babatunde, Akanmu, Asogban, Akeem and Mohammed separately committed the crime between March 30 and April 27 at different places in Oyo State.

Two suspects arrested with 462kg of Indian Hemp.

Justice

The names of the accused are; Femi Babatunde, also known as Scorpion, Dele Akanmu, Biodun Asogba, Afeez Akeem and Ibrahim Mohammed, all adults.

Abdulmaleek separately adjourned the cases till June 7 for presentation of facts against the accused persons.

Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, said the accused persons were arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on unlawful dealing in Indian Hemp.

According to the prosecutor, the accused persons deal in 22.170 kg of Indian hemp.

He stated that the offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Law of the Federation 2004.

However, Babatunde, who was arrested with 3.5 kg of Indian Hemp, pleaded not guilty while the other four pleaded guilty to the offence.

Akanmu was apprehended with 170 grammes, Asogban with 13 kg, Akeem with 1.5 kg and Mohammed with 4.5 kg of Indian hemp respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that if convicted, the accused persons risk between 10 and 15 years in prison.