Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun ruled on Wednesday that the custody of five individuals, accused of possessing Indian hemp and two bags of counterfeit foreign currency, should be maintained by the police until legal guidance is received from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

The suspects—Francis Omwukei (26), Kingsley Ude (33), Umar Idris (37), Eyo (27), and Bright Ahamefula (26)—faced a two-count charge, presented before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court, which encompassed possession of Indian hemp and fake foreign currency, namely Pounds Sterling and US dollars.

Prosecutor Rita Momoh detailed that the defendants were apprehended on August 9, 2023, at White Sand in Ijora, Lagos State.

ALSO READ: Dollar strengthens as US economy holds strong; Australian dollar declines on employment figures

The accusation against them entailed both possessing substances believed to be Indian hemp and publicly displaying these substances, an act with the potential to disrupt public tranquility.

Momoh further emphasized that the charges contravened Sections 329 and 442 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, specifying that the defendants’ actions ran afoul of these statutes.

Despite the allegations, the accused individuals entered pleas of not guilty.

The magistrate, due to the absence of a remand warrant, ordered the retention of the defendants in police custody for a week, during which the police would duplicate the case file and submit it to the DPP for legal counsel.

The case was postponed to August 23, 2023, to await the DPP’s guidance.