The police on Friday arraigned three men before a chief magistrates’ court in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly stealing seven goats.

The defendants are Olarewaju Segun, 27; Abubakar Yinusa, 28; and Farouk Aliu, 28.

The trio, whose addresses were not stated, are standing trial on two counts of stealing and receiving stolen property.

They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Insp Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on October 11, at about 11:00 a.m., at Abuja quarters along NTA Road in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the first defendant stole seven goats worth N700,000 belonging to one Ifeoluwa Adebomojo.

Mr Adeniyi also alleged that the second and third defendants received the stolen goats from the first defendant, knowing that they were stolen.

The offences contravene sections 302(1) and 343(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The prosecutor then asked the court to grant an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

Meanwhile, defence counsel, Paul Ayantoyinbo, urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, promising they would not jump bail.

The chief magistrate, Dolamu Babalogbon, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

She consequently adjourned the case until November 19 for hearing.