[Sativa]

Two girls caught smoking Indian hemp in a residential area in the Federal Capital Territory were yesterday sentenced to three months imprisonment by an Abuja magistrates' court.

The convicts, Stephanie Averver and Catherine Dauda of no fixed address were arrested on July 28 in Kuduma village by Corporal Mike Musa of the Asokoro divisional headquarters of Nigeria police,

The accused were caught smoking Indian hemp and rubber solution. They were charged with joint act and constituting nuisance, contrary to the penal code before the Karu Abuja magistrate court.

Before the penalty was read out to them, the duo had pleaded guilty to the two count charges by accepting the content of the police allegation which was read out by the court registrar, Mrs. Lilian Onoja

They said the allegation was true. The prosecutor in the case, Sergeant Philips Akogwu then urged the court to sentence the pair summarily following their admission of guilt.Relevant Links

When asked by the court to give reasons why they should not be convicted and sentenced for committing the offence, Stephanie and Catherine who originally came from Benue and Katsina states respectively pleaded the court to tamper justice with mercy in carrying out judgment on them. "The smoking habit which we have cultivated is the work of the devil," they said.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Hon Abdullahi Ahmed Ilelah said the convicts must be punished so as to serve as deterrent to them and other future offenders.

They were, however, given an option of N5,100 fine each in lieu of the three months sentence. Hon Ilelah also gave them one month grace to appeal if they are not satisfied with the judgment.



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Source: AllAfrica
Author: Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu
Contact: allAfrica.com: Home
Copyright: 2007 Daily Trust
Website: Nigeria: Two Girls Jailed for Smoking Hemp