Saturday, May 24, 2025 - Two men were arraigned on Friday, May 23, in an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ondo State, for allegedly setting fire on a palm fruit plantation and maliciously damaging cassava stems worth N2.4 million.
The police charged Sunday Omopelumi, 45, a farmer and
Iseoluwa Adegbehindo, 30, an aluminium fabricator, with felony, arson and
malicious damage.
The Police Prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court
that the defendants on April 13, around 3 pm. at Ladan farm in Ode-Aye,
Okitipupa magisterial district, conspired to commit a felony.
Orogbemi said that the defendants trespassed onto farmland
belonging to one Pius Apalara, after an argument and set fire on his palm
fruits plantation worth N1.4 million.
He added that the defendants also maliciously damaged some young cassava stems
worth N800,000.
The offence, he said, is punishable under Sections 516,
445(a) and 451, Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the
charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olanrewaju Àdelegan, admitted them
to bail in the sum of N200,000 each and a surety each in like sum.
He ordered that the sureties who must reside within the
court’s jurisdiction, must show and present evidence of two years tax payment
made to the state government.
He adjourned the case until June 3 for further hearing.
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