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Herbalist Jailed For Selling Hemp
July 01, 2009 15:28, 279 views
By Akin Kupoyini
A Lagos-based herbalist, Wahab Ahmed, who has been using Indian hemp to prepare concoctions for his clients is to spend the next four months behind bars.
The 48-year old herbalist was arrested by NDLEA operatives on 24 March, 2009 at 6, Dada Bello Close, Ajilete, Agege, Lagos, with 1.5 kg of Indian hemp also known as Canabis Sativa.
The offence is contrary to Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap.30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The accused pleaded guilty and was convicted accordingly.
The NDLEA prosecutor, while reviewing the facts of the case, tendered the statement of the accused where he explained that he was not using the Indian hemp for commercial purposes, but to prepare native medicine to assist people who have spiritual problems.
The convict, who was not represented by any lawyer, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
In her judgement, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako sentenced him to four months imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others.
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Hajia Maikudi
1 July 2009 20:12So mild a sentence! My lord hope you were not hypnotised.
erurugo
2 July 2009 01:17If this whole buzz about drug in Nigeria ends at four months imprisonment, why won’t every other person do it. In other countries is death penalty or elongated years of incarceration. Nigeria should wake up or stop making noise about NDLEA and drug peddlers.
Phil
3 July 2009 01:46The man is a herbalist.He deals in herbs and hemp is one of the essential ingredients in his line of duties.I want to believe this guy has not studied the art of rebranding, he should branded gbana rather than calling it hemp
musa
4 July 2009 17:34nigerian as a whole is behind……..sometime that god created fools to live in nigeria………hemp is being use in europe to treat sickness……….But in my fatheland called nigeria…..we are still fools.
jayjay
5 July 2009 00:08Are we saying the man has no right to practice what he believes in. If addition of little Indian hemp will actually cure a particular ailment , why can’t he use it. Somebody that is sick needs healing at all cost and if this is the way, are we going to deprive the sick solution to the problems. i think NDLEA should make further verification or they should tell us more about it.
Ronald Simon
5 July 2009 15:27The truth of the matter is that Indian hemp is a stimulant and not a drug as it is been made to appear before the eyes of the public. Permit me to ask you dear cotrib utors a question before you start screaming blue murder, is there any leader in Nigeria today that does not smoke indian hemp? or even entertainers that churn out wonderful songs that keps one on the dance floor till the break of dawn? The indian hemp that is been condemned today was created by God Almighty and is still in it’s natural state. Unlike cigarette that has been processed and chemicals poured all over it to keep you addicted to the slow killer.
Rain or shine, lets call a spade a spade, Igbo is far better than cigarettes and should be legalised with govt acting as a sales and control agents. This has been done and sucess recorded in Sweden. Even some of you contributors take the stuff.