Bean cake seller arraigned for possession, sale of marijuana

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday arraigned one Ozoemena Oyigbo before the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu for alleged possession of 2.5 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana.
When the matter came up for hearing, the prosecutor, Joseph Momodu, said the accused was dealing on a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, thereby committing an offence contrary to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Law 2004.
Momodu said: “The accused without any lawful authority, sells substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, an offence which runs contrary to the law.
“My client was informed by a policeman living in the same compound with the accused, who pleads anonymity, that the accused was selling the substance in her compound at Ngwo in Udi local government of Enugu State.”
Momodu said the accused was noted for bean cake (akara) business in the area.
Momodu said that his client invaded the house of the accused and found a black nylon bag that contained the cannabis sativa.
He said: “My client arrested the accused and detained her in their custody for three months before she was sent to Enugu Prison.
“The accused is still in the prison custody.”
The counsel to the accused, Bernie Onu, said his client was a single lady who came out of her village to earn a living.
Onu said the policeman wanted his client to be his girlfriend and when she refused, the policeman threatened to set her up.
“My client is only a bean cake maker and is innocent of all the allegations levelled against her,” Onu said.
Ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Dorothy Agishi, adjourned the case to June 3 for further hearing.