Court remands barber charged with possession of Indian hemp, charms

A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered the remand of a 25-year-old barber, Ibrahim Sule, for allegedly being in possession of Indian hemp and charms.

The accused was arraigned alongside one, Sirajo Musa, on nine counts of joint act, criminal intimidation, forceful assault, inciting disturbance, obstructing public a servant from discharging his duty.

Other charges are: being in possession of charms, dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, unlawful assembly and armed with dangerous weapons.

The prosecutor, Insp. Alfred Auta, told the court that a team of policemen had carry out a raid in Sauka Kahuta area of Minna based on a distress call received from the public.

Auta said the during the raid, the first accused was found to be in possession of Indian hemp and arrested but proved violent and assaulted two men who assisted the police to effect the arrest.

According to him, the second accused also obstructed the police from arresting the first accused person being his friend.

He said during police investigation the first accused threatened to stab police officers with a knife found on him in addition to substance suspected to be charms.

Auta said the offences contravened Sections 79, 397, 265, 277, 114, 148, 29 and 103 of the Penal Code and Section 8 of the Indian Hemp Act.

When the charges were read to them in court, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, thereafter, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the court complete its investigation.

In his ruling, Magistrate Hamza Muazu ordered the first accused to be remanded in prison but granted the second d accused bail in the sum of N20, 000 and a surety in like sum.

Muazu adjourned the case until May 26 for further mention.