A 94-year-old man, Ojo Bayode, and his son, Ade, 41, have been arraigned in an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court, on charges of unlawful damage of a farmland valued at N1.1million.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
The prosecutor, Inspector Jimoh Ibrahim, told the court that the accused conspired with others (now at large) to ‘unlawfully and maliciously’ damage the farmland belonging to one chief Omodara Falade.
Ibrahim alleged that the accused forcibly entered the farmland, and damaged cocoa trees, valued at N300,000; kola nut trees, valued at N700,000 and plantain stems, valued at N100,000.
He said the accused committed the offence on December 27, 2013, at Awule Village in Akure South Local Government Area and the offence is punishable under sections 516(a), 451 and 81 of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The counsel to the accused, Mr. Fidelix Oriaifo, prayed the court to grant his clients bail in liberal terms.
The magistrate, Mrs. Iretiolu Dada, granted them bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.
Dada said that the sureties must be credible and resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must fill affidavits of means with two recent passport photographs.
She adjourned the case until April 7, 2014, for further hearing.
