Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun issued an order on Wednesday to keep five men in police custody until legal advice is provided by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The men were arraigned on charges of possessing Indian hemp (cannabis) and fake foreign currencies, including Pounds Sterling and US dollars.
The suspects, identified as Francis Omwukei (26), Kingsley Ude (33), Umar Idris (37), Eyo (27), and Bright Ahamefula (26), appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. They faced a two-count charge of possessing the illegal substance and the counterfeit currencies.
The prosecutor, Rita Momoh, informed the court that the defendants were apprehended on August 9, 2023, at White Sand, Ijora, Lagos State. The accusation against them was that they were openly displaying suspected Indian hemp, which had the potential to disrupt public peace.
According to Momoh, their actions violated Sections 329 and 442 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria and were punishable under those sections.
In response to the charges, the defendants entered pleas of not guilty.
In the absence of a remand warrant, Magistrate Olatunbosun ordered that the defendants be held in police custody for seven days. During this time, the police were to prepare the case file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
The magistrate scheduled the next court hearing for August 23, 2023, pending the DPP’s advice.