Oyo becoming haven for vandals – Judge

Justice Abimbola-Obaseki Adejumo of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday said that Oyo State was becoming a haven for pipeline vandals.
Obaseki-Adejumo said this during a court session where 10 suspected pipeline vandals, who pleaded guilty to vandalism, were arraigned.
She expressed worry that the state was now becoming a safe haven for pipeline vandals and Indian hemp peddlers.
She said: “It is not all about pleading guilty, it is about knowing what pipeline vandalism is all about.
“If you divert your youths from genuine sources of income, you will find out that the whole community will be involved in these acts.
“You lawyers should take time out to advice these youths about changing to the positive side of life.”
Many cases of pipeline vandalism and cultivation of Indian hemp had been prosecuted at the court.
Three suspected Indian hemp dealers were also arraigned on Wednesday in the court.
Those arraigned were Akorede Ismaila, Raman Salami and Tunde Jimoh.
The counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Morakinyo Ayokunle, said that the defendants were arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawfully dealing in Indian hemp.
Ayokunle added that the defendants were separately arrested between 2013 and 2014 in different parts of Oyo State.
According to Ayokunle, the offence contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The pleas of the defendants were, however, not taken.
Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo ordered the trio to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to February 18 for further trial.