The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned five suspects for preventing policemen attached to the Iba Police Station from arresting a yet-to-be-identified suspected drug dealer and possessing hard drugs suspected to be Indian hemp in the Iba area of the state.

The suspects, Daniel Akwue, Micheal Owini, John Orji, Chukwuka Okonkwo, and Chinonso Godwin, were arraigned on Tuesday before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Ogba area of the state.

The suspects, who are facing four counts bordering on felony to wit breach of peace preferred against them by the police, were arraigned before Magistrate, M.A Adegbaye.

A policeman, Inspector Jarome Jibrin, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on February 14, 2023.

He said the defendants allegedly conducted themselves in a disorderly manner by preventing a team of policemen attached to the Iba Police Station from effecting the arrest of a suspected person in possession of a substance suspected to be Indian hemp and in the process injured a policeman, Inspector Endurance Aghedo, in his left leg.

He noted that one of the suspects, Akwue, was found in possession of a cup of substance suspected to be Indian hemp in the Iba area of the state.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Evelyn Ehieniua, the offence committed is punishable under Sections 411, (168) (2), 329 (a) and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge read, “That you, Daniel Akwue, Micheal Owini, John Orji, Chukwuka Okonkwo, and Chinonso Godwin, and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a disorderly manner by preventing a team policemen attached to Iba Police Station, Lagos State, from effecting the arrest of a suspected person in possession of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section (168) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“That you, Daniel Akwue, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did have in your possession a cup of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 329 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Magistrate M.A Adegbaye granted the suspects bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till March 22, for mention.