Friday, May 2, 2025 - A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has sentenced a herdsman, Dan-Bello, to 10 years imprisonment for violating the state’s anti-open grazing law and for destroying farm crops valued at N50 million.
The convict was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering
on conspiracy, unlawful grazing, malicious damage, breach of peace and illegal
entry. He was found guilty on all counts.
According to the prosecution, Dan-Bello, on October 27,
2023, grazed his cattle on a farmland belonging to the National Palm Produce
Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), located along Ago Panu–Ute Road in Owo Local
Government Area.
The cattle reportedly destroyed young palm trees and
watermelons cultivated across two hectares.
Prosecuting counsel, P.O. Nwafor, told the court that the
grazing occurred without a permit, and on land not designated for such use by
the state government, in clear violation of the Ondo State Livestock Rearing
and Grazing Regulation Law, 2021.
She further stated that the incident escalated when one of
the herders, who initially escaped, returned the following day with six others
and allegedly set fire to the farm, destroying a motorcycle in the process
A farm guard who testified as one of the prosecution
witnesses, recounted how he apprehended Dan-Bello while the second herder
fled.
Delivering judgement, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, held that
the evidence presented by the prosecution was credible and sufficient.
He was further sentenced to two years without an option of
fine on the fifth count.
Consequently, the court sentenced Dan-Bello to four years
imprisonment on the first count without an option of a fine; two years on the
second count with an option of N50,000 fine; and one year each on the third and
fourth counts.
The magistrate ordered that the sentences should run
concurrently.
However, the court ruled that the convict would be
discharged if he pays a compensation of N2 million to the complainant.
0 Comments