17 Indian hemp growers convicted

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 (Cannabis) 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.