Ekiti State Police Command has brought a 20-year-old cattle rearer, Mohamadu Bello, before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti, accusing him of causing damage to farm produce worth N3.8 million, belonging to four different individuals.
According to The PUNCH, the police prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, disclosed that the incident occurred on August 10 in Ido Ile Ekiti.
He further alleged that Bello destroyed farm produce worth N2.8 million owned by Oni Samson.
Additionally, Bello is accused of damaging crops valued at N300,000, owned by Igbalajobi Adeyomi, and causing destruction to produce worth N400,000 belonging to Akinola Sunday.
These actions, as alleged, are in violation of Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
Adejare stated that Bello, in the course of herding his cattle, “the defendant, who is a cattle rearer, maliciously damaged the farm produce valued at N300,000 belonging to one Awiye Olusola. The defendant also maliciously damaged the farm produce valued at N2.8m belonging to one Oni Samson.
“The defendant maliciously damaged farm produce valued at N300,000 belonging to one Igbalajobi Adeyomi. The defendant also maliciously damaged farm produce valued at N400,000 belonging to one Akinola Sunday.
“The offences committed contravened Sections 363 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.”
Adejare requested an adjournment to allow time for a thorough review of the case file and to prepare the necessary witnesses.
Meanwhile, the defense counsel, Mr. Adeyemi Egbebi, pleaded for bail on behalf of Bello, assuring the court that his client would not abscond.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. Bankole Oluwasanmi, granted Bello bail set at N80,000, with the requirement of one surety in the same amount.
The case was subsequently adjourned to September 6 for further hearing.
In a related development, another Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, under the jurisdiction of Mr. Abayomi Adeosun, also granted bail to two men, Hammed Abdulrasheed, 22, and Abiodun Aluko, 42, who were charged with the alleged theft of a motorbike.
Sergeant Alice Ojo, the police prosecutor, informed the court that the defendants, Abdulrasheed and Aluko, committed the alleged offense on August 6 in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
She accused Abdulrasheed of stealing a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N1.2 million, owned by one Ogundipe Babasanmi.
Aluko was alleged to have been found in possession of the stolen motorcycle.
The charges against them, according to Sergeant Ojo, contravene Sections 302 and 343 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. She requested a brief adjournment to study the case file and to arrange for the presentation of witnesses.
Defense counsel, Mr. Adeyemi Egbebi, similarly requested bail for his clients, assuring the court of their intention to adhere to all bail conditions.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun granted the defendants bail in the amount of N250,000 each, with the stipulation of one surety per defendant, set at the same sum.
The court then scheduled the next hearing for September 27.
