Man, 60, docked for smoking hemp

A sexagenarian, Lawrence Nwanze, on Monday appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, charged with trafficking in hard drug.

The accused, 60, who resides at No. 5, Kofoworola Square, Surulere, is being tried for breach of peace and possession of an unlawful substance believed to be hemp.

Nwanze, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. But, Police Prosecutor, Oluwagbenga Salami insisted that the accused person committed the offences with others still at large at his apartment in Surulere. He alleged that the accused had invited many people to the compound to smoke hemp and also trade in the illicit drug.

“A large amount of weeds suspected to be hemp were found with him and he could not give any satisfactory explanation how he came about them.”

Salami said the accused also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in the neighborhood by engaging in criminal activities.

The offences contravened Sections 168(d) and 329(c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. T.O. Abayomi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. He said the surety should be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.

Adayomi adjourned the case until August 17, 2017 for mention.