ENUGU – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday charged one Ngozi Agu and her son, Chidera, before the Federal High Court in Enugu with drugs possession.
The accused persons were arraigned on a one-count charge of conspiracy in connection with the alleged possession of 450 grammes of Indian hemp.
The prosecutor and NDLEA’s counsel, Mr Godwin Momodu, said the accused were caught with 450grammes of Cannabis Sativa on Dec. 29, 2011 at the Medium Security Prison, Oji River in Enugu State.
Momodu said Chidera’s father was in the prison for alleged armed robbery.
“Chidera packaged 450 grammes of cannabis sativa with some fruit and cooked food pretending that he was taking food to his father in the prison yard.
“At the prison gate, the prison workers unpacked the items to check the content and it was discovered that Chidera was carrying cannabis sativa.
“He said that the mother packaged it for him to give to his father so that he would sell to his fellow prisoners and make money for the family.
“They arrested him and handed him over to the NDLEA, which charged them to the court,” the prosecutor said.
Momodu said the accused committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the NDLEA Act.
The counsel to the accused, Mr Samuel Okoye, said that his client was innocent of the allegations as he was taking food to his father in the prison.
“How can a right thinking human being take cannabis sativa to the prison yard, knowing full well that there would be a thorough check at the prison gate?” he asked rhetorically.
According to him, the second accused (Ngozi) was arrested and handed over to the NDLEA by the prison officials when she went searching for her son the second day.
Justice Dorothy Agishi adjourned the case to May 26 for continuation of hearing after listening to the submissions. (NAN)
