An American returnee, Stanley Obinna Nwora, has been arraigned by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before a Lagos Federal High Court, for unlawful importation and possession of Indian hemp.
Stanley was arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko led court by NDLEA on the charges.
The defendant, a resident of 6, Moses Ebitu, SPG Road Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos, according to the prosecutor, Mr. Umar Hussain, was arrested with 543 grams of the banned weed, by the Special Enforcement Team (SET) on May 17, 2023.
Umar told the court that the defendant’s illegal acts contravened Sections 11(a) and 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 (As amended).
The defendant admitted to committing the offenses and pleaded guilty to the charges made against him by the NDLEA.
Following his plea of guilty, the prosecutor asked the court for a short date to review the facts of the charge.
He told the court that his request for a short date was premised on the indisposed of the exhibits keeper, whom he said was outside the jurisdiction.
Upon the agreement of the prosecutor and Chief Benson Ndakara, lawyer to the defendant, Justice Aluko, while ordering that the defendant be remanded with the NDLEA, adjourned the matter till June 21, for review of facts and sentence.
Charges Against The Defendant Read: “That you Stanley Obinna Nwora, Male, Adult, Nigerian citizen of Number 6, Moses Ebitu, SPG Road Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos, on or about 17th day of May 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court; without lawful Authority imported 543 grams of Cannabis Sativa, a substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD and you thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 11 (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap. N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended).
“That you Stanley Obinna Nwora, Male, Adult, Nigerian citizen of Number 6, Moses Ebitu, SPG Road Ologolo, Lekki, Lagos, on or about 17th day of May 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, without lawful Authority Possessed 543 grams of Cannabis Sativa, a substance similar to Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD and you thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act CAP N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (As amended).”
