On Friday, a 35-year-old farmer, Kehinde Omosebi, was arraigned before the Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo for allegedly felling economic trees worth N15 million.

Mr Omosebi is facing a three-count charge of forced entry, breach of peace, and malicious damage.

The prosecutor, Ayodeji Omoyeigha, told the court that Omosebi and two others, now at large, conspired to commit breach of peace and malicious damage.

He said the defendant committed the offences at about 12:20 p.m. on January 20, at Imoron farm, Ajagba, in Irele magisterial district.

Mr Omoyeigha said that the defendant and his gang conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by forcefully entering farmland belonging to the complainant, Adetoun Akindele.

He said that they felled 200 young palm trees valued at N5 million and 100 young rubber trees worth N10 million.

Omoyeigha said that the offences contravened Sections 517, 81, and 451, Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The chief magistrate, Patrick Ajele, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.

He added that the sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction and should present evidence of two years of tax payment to the state government.

He adjourned the case until July 22 for further hearing. 

(NAN)