A 72-year-old man, Zechariah Ojo, has been docked at the Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan over an alleged land grabbing.

Mr Ojo was alleged to have connived with two others, Joseph Ayanwale, 60 and Opeyemi Joshua, 44, to commit the crime.

The three, whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy, forcibly entering, land grabbing, forgery, and Conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Philip Amusan, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence sometime in 2023 in Oyetola village, Badeku, Ibadan.

Mr Amusan alleged that the trio forcibly entered the land belonging to Abimbola Lawal, domiciled in the aforementioned area. He said the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by forging Lawal‘s signature and forcibly grabbing her land.

Mr Amusan said the offences contravened Sections 516, 81 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The court president, Moji Aworemi, granted the defendants bail of N500,000 each and two sureties each in like sum.

Ms Aworemi held that the sureties must have evidence of three years’ tax clearance and be blood relatives of the defendants.

She adjourned the case until June 3 for a hearing. 

(NAN)