Three persons have been remanded in Ilesa prison in Osun State for allegedly organising a carnival, where some persons competed in the smoking of cannabis sativa, an illicit drug popularly called Indian
hemp.
The accused, including 19-year-old twin brothers, Taye and Kehinde Oladosu, and one Muhammad Jamiyu, were arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrates’ court for organising the Indian hemp carnival, where they allegedly brandished machetes in a manner capable of causing panic in the
neighborhood.
The three accused persons were docked by the police in the state on a four-count charge bearing on conspiracy, breach of peace, illicit pssessioon of arms and
theft.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Jafani Muslim, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offence on April 13 at about 9:00am, along the Sabo area in Osogbo, the state capital.
Muslim said the accused persons conspired among themselves to organise a cannabis sativa festival, which led to the breach of peace within the area.
He said the accused were also found with three stolen motorcycles valued at N750,000 during a raid of the venue of the carnival by the police.
The prosecutor said that the gathering of the smokers led to a public disturbance of peace before the intervention of the police.
He explained that the offence contravened Sections 516(A), 249(D), 430(8) and 383 and is punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol. 11, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
The three accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The Defence Counsel, Mr. Okobie Najite, prayed the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms, but the prosecutor objected the oral bail application.
Muslim objected on the ground that the three accused persons had no place of abode and source of
living.
However, the Magistrate, Mr. Olusegun Ayilara, granted the three accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in the same sum.
Ayilara said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction with evidence of tax payment and two passports sized photographs, attached with an affidavit of means.
He said one of the sureties must be a landed property owner.
The case was adjourned to June 1 for hearing.
The bail conditions appeared stringent for the accused persons as they could not meet them. They were thereafter remanded in Ilesha prison.
