By Our Correspondent
A 28-year-old man, Salisu Rabiu, on Thursday, requestef for an interpreter in Hausa Language to know his offence before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
When the charge of conspiracy and peddling in Indian hemp was first read to him, Rabiu shook his head to convey that he did not understand the English.
He told the court that he only understood the Hausa Language.
Consequently, the court asked for an interpreter.
When an interpreter was obtained, the court’s registrar read the charge in the English Language again and the volunteer interpreted the same in Hausa to the defendant.
Rabiu, thereafter, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and peddling of Indian hemp in Lagos State.
He told the court, through the interpreter, that he committed the offences together with another man at large.
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TheNewsZenith reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had brought the defendant before Justice Ibrahim Kala on two counts.
According to NDLEA counsel, Mrs N.I. Erondu, the defendant conspired with one Nasiru Bello, who is now at large, to peddle Indian hemp on Nov. 20, 2023, at Ikorodu in Lagos State.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecutor reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documents like drug analysis form, scientific aid form and the illicit substance as evidence against the defendant.
The court admitted the evidences and convicted the defendant.
Defence counsel, Mr O. Ojakovo, prayed to the court to show mercy on his client. Ojakovo, argued that he was a first-time offender.
The court sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine and ordered the destruction of the illicit substance.
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