Court discharges three for alleged hemp smoking

THE Apapa Magistrate Court on Tuesday discharged three men who were earlier arraigned on April 7, 2014 for smoking Cannabis (Indian hemp) in public and conspiring with others at large to disturb public peace along Durbar Road in Amuwo-Odofin local council area.

The three discharged defendants are Ariyibi Olayiwola (32), Williams Femi (32) and Fatoyinbo Ayomikun (35).       The defense counsel, Barr. Oba Olayiwola argued that charges against the defendants were fabricated and politically motivated, which became evident after the prosecutor found it difficult to provide any shred of evidence or witness against the accused on all trial days.

After several adjournments, which were made at the instance of the prosecutor, the case was eventually struck out. The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Adegbite, ruled that the three accused defendants were discharged and acquainted for want of diligent prosecution.

The trio were accused of belonging to a gang of thieves, being in possession of weeds suspected to be hemp and causing a breach of the peace. The prosecutor, Insp. Micheal Unah told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences on April 5 along Durbar Road, Amuwo-Odofin.

“The offences contravened Sections 166 (d), 327, 404 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011,” he said. Section 166 (d) prescribes three months imprisonment for disturbing public peace, while Section 404 stipulates seven years jail term for felony.