A 39-year old man, Hammed Muritala, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, over alleged theft of poultry birds valued at N579,000.

Muritala, whose address was not provided, is being charged with theft and obtaining under false pretence, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Olalekan Adegbite, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at about 2.00p.m on March 5, at Oni and Sons area of Ibadan.

Mr Adegbite said that Muritala fraudulently obtained six weeks old chicks numbering 100 from the complainant, Ifeanyi Wisdom.

He said that the defendant collected the poultry birds on the pretext of paying N579,000 to Wisdom, but ran away, and refused to fulfill the agreement.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 399(9) and 419 of the Criminal laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Kausarat Ayofe granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250,000, with two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case until June 15, for hearing. (NAN)