A 45-year-old man, Bello Lateef, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly possessing weeds suspected to be hemp.
Lateef, who has no fixed address, faces a one-count charge of possessing the suspected illicit substance. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olubu Apata, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Oct. 10 at about 12:15 p.m. in Ado-Ekiti.
Apata said the offence contravened Section 5(b) of the Indian Hemp Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Counsel to the defendant, Mrs Blessing Falaye, urged the court to grant him bail, assuring it that he would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Ajibade, granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦20,000 with one surety in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Oct. 19 for further hearing.
