A Nigerian Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced 17
men to two years’ imprisonment each for attempting to plant 18
kilogrammes of Indian hemp without lawful authority.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Emmanuel Obile, however,
granted each of them an option of fine of N60,000.
Those convicted included David Luke (24), Friday Nwakana (26)
Lucky Onyausuma (20), Olu Sounmi (28), Godwin Ogbu (19), Akpan Samuel
(40), Bolaji Aluko (32), Bassey Akanima (22) and Anselem Urama (32).
The rest are Raymond Abenu (32), Amechi Akanu (42), Saturday
Ileoben (25), Mathew Okah (27) Friday Ejeh (35), Taiye Echaruku (28),
Okonye Chukudi (28) and Ezekiel David.
The prosecutor, Mr Iliya Waji, a Senior Legal Officer with the
NDLEA, had told the court that the convicts were caught attempting to
cultivate 60 acres in order to plant 18 kilogrammes of Indian hemp
seeds.
He said that they were caught on 6 March 6 2012 at the
Ise-Ekiti forest of Ekiti State.
According to Waji, the offence is contrary to and punishable
under Section 23 of the NDLEA Act Cap 30, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004.
Testifying before the court, a senior Narcotic officer with
NDLEA, Mr Komonido Iyebakumo, told the court that the laboratory test
carried out at the NDLEA Headquarters, Lagos, revealed that the
substances were Indian hemp seeds.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Benson Nduka, had earlier pleaded with
the judge to temper justice with mercy, considering the ages of most of
the convicts, who could still be useful to the society.
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