A minor, Uchenna Akoma, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly peddling Indian hemp, also known as marijuana.
The minor was arraigned in camera before Justice Babs Kuewumi.
When the case was called, the prosecuting counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. J.I. Aernan, applied to the court to bar other litigants and journalists from observing the proceedings.
The judge ordered everyone not a party in the suit, except other lawyers, to vacate the courtroom after which the door was shut.
Our correspondent, however, learnt that the accused gave his age as15 years and confessed to taking two wraps of marijuana on a daily basis.
Earlier, the agency had arraigned seven others for dealing in marijuana without lawful authority.
The seven accused, Aernan said, were arrested with different quantities of the illicit substance at various parts of Lagos in the month of June.
They are 26-year-old Uche Okoro caught with 100 grammes of canabis sativa on June 3, 2016 in Ikeja; 22-year-old Adeniyi Adelakun caught with 200g of marijuana on June 19 at the Sabo area of Ikorodu and Lukman Lawal, 32 years old, caught with 400g of marijuana.
Others are 23-year-old Dimeji Shodamola caught with 500g of Indian hemp at Odo-Eran, Itire; 30-year-old Rabiu Ibrahim caught with 1.1 kilogrammes of Indian hemp on June 4 in Apapa and Shasudeen Hassan, 23, caught with 200g of canabis sativa.
Also arraigned on Tuesday was Dangoa Musa, who was caught on June 4 with 2kg of Tramadol and 24g of Diazepam, all described as psychotropic substances.
“The offence is contrary to Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Act,” Aernan said.
Each of the seven accused pleaded guilty to the one count pressed against them.
The judge adjourned for the prosecutor to review the facts of the cases after which the accused may be sentenced to prison.
“The accused are to be remanded in prison custody,” the judge said.
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