A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 32-year-old rider, Mathew Sunday to six months imprisonment for smoking dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp in public.

The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of a fine of N30,000 or spend six months in prison.

He said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to offenders.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Ijuptil Thlawur told the court that the case was reported on Aug. 17, at the “A” Division Police station by one Abdul Usman, a vigilante group member.

Thlawur said that the convict was caught behind a house smoking the substance.

The police said that the offence contravened the Plateau State Penal Code La