A 59-year-old man, Sunday Jimoh, has appeared before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun on a three-count charge of stealing, malicious damage, and breach of peace.
The charges relate to the alleged theft of cocoa beans worth N1 million.
Jimoh, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Insp. Adesina Elijah, told the court that the offenses were committed on August 11 at approximately 10 a.m. at Itamarun Village in Ile-Ife. The case has been adjourned for further hearing.
Elijah alleged that the defendant forcefully entered a farm belonging to the complainant, Mr Ewu Tojola, and stole the cocoa beans.
He told the court that the defendant willfully and unlawfully destroyed some ‘economic trees’ belonging to the complainant.
Elijah claimed that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to breach the peace.
The prosecutor said that the that the offences contravened Sections 82, 383 and 388 of Criminal Law of Osun, 2002.
Defence Counsel, Mr Martins Awe urged the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms, promising that he would not jump bail.
Th Magistrate, Mrs Kikelomo Adebayo, granted the the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.
Adebayo said that the surety must swear to affidavit of means and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
She added that the surety must be a blood relation of the defendant with evidence of three years tax payment to Osun Government.
Adebayo adjourned the case until Sept. 19 for mention.
