Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ekiti State Police Command has arraigned five men before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates' Court over alleged possession of Indian hemp, in a case that has once again highlighted the ongoing battle against illicit substances in the state. The defendants, Omotoso Opeyemi, 29; Folorunso Emmanuel, 28; Lamidi Alaba, 42; Sanmi Ojo, 38; and Babatunde Abimbola, 26, were brought before Chief Magistrate Kehinde Awosika on Thursday, August 20, 2026, on a one-count charge of possession of Indian hemp. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on August 12, 2026, at about 8:00 a.m. in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. He alleged that the defendants had in their possession weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and other illicit substances. Adejare stated that the offence contravened Section 5(b) of the Indian Hemp Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Awe, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail. In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Kehinde Awosika granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. She thereafter adjourned the case until October 15, 2026, for hearing.
The case is the latest in a series of drug-related prosecutions in Ekiti State, where authorities have intensified efforts to curb the cultivation, trafficking and possession of illicit substances. Just days earlier, on August 13, 2026, two persons – Adedipe Oluwaseun, 36, and Oyedeji Oluwaseun, 21 – were arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates' Court over alleged possession of Indian hemp. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has also been active in the state, with the Ekiti State Commander, Rufus Aina, disclosing in June 2026 that the agency had destroyed more than 51 hectares of cannabis sativa plantations and arrested 281 suspects involved in illicit drug trafficking.
The prosecution of the five men comes amid growing concerns about the prevalence of drug abuse and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating the illicit drug trade. Ekiti State, like many other states in the South-West, has become a hub for cannabis cultivation, with vast plantations hidden deep inside forests across the state. The Indian Hemp Act, under which the defendants were charged, provides for penalties for the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis, but critics have argued that the law is often applied disproportionately to petty offenders while major traffickers evade justice.
The decision by Chief Magistrate Awosika to grant bail at N20,000 each with one surety reflects a balanced approach that acknowledges the presumption of innocence while ensuring that the defendants make themselves available for trial. The relatively low bail amount suggests that the court does not consider the defendants to be flight risks or a danger to society, despite the seriousness of the allegations. However, the case also raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing drug-related offences, particularly given the limited resources available to law enforcement agencies and the courts.
As the case progresses toward the October 15 hearing, the defendants will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution's evidence and present their defence. The prosecution, for its part, will need to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants were indeed in possession of Indian hemp, a task that will require the presentation of forensic evidence and credible witnesses. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by civil society organisations and legal practitioners, who have expressed concerns about the use of the criminal justice system to address drug-related offences without addressing the underlying social and economic factors that drive drug abuse.
For the five men, the journey through the criminal justice system has only just begun, and the coming months will determine whether they will be convicted or acquitted. For the people of Ekiti State, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug abuse and the need for a comprehensive approach that combines law enforcement with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The court's decision to adjourn the case until October 15 provides both the prosecution and the defence with time to prepare their cases, and the eventual verdict will be a test of the strength of the evidence and the fairness of the judicial process.
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