‘I smoke Indian hemp to ‘kill’ sorrow’

A 38-year-old truck pusher, Ayodeji Kabiru, and an accomplice, Ayo Bamidele, have been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court for unlawful possession of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

The police said while they were on “surveillance” around Shogunle in Oshodi on May 31, 2013, the accused were caught smoking weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

This action, the police said, was an offence punishable under section 327 of the Criminal Law No. 11 Volume 44, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

They said although Kabiru claimed that he smoked Indian hemp to put his problems behind him, Bamidele, however, denied the allegation and claimed that he only took a native concoction (jedi).

Kabiru, who lives at No. 42, Club Road in Oshodi, according to the police, said, “I was smoking Indian hemp when I was caught; I bought it at Ladipo at the rate of N50 only.

“I smoke Indian hemp to forget any form of thinking. I’m aware of my offence and I want the police to resolve the case with me.”

He, however, pleaded not guilty of the offence for which he was charged.

Bamidele, on the other hand, denied before the police that he was smoking hemp when he was arrested.

He said, “I was taking ‘jedi’ that day when the police came to raid us. I was only standing beside the bus when I was arrested alongside the other boys who were smoking Indian hemp.”

He also pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.

The magistrate, Mr. A.A. Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 each with a surety who has an evidence of three years of tax payment.

He later adjourned the case till June 20, 2013.