The police, on Tuesday, arraigned a 25-year-old man, Abubakar Umar, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged unlawful grazing.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of unlawful grazing and unlawful permit to graze.

The prosecutor, Insp Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 26 at Ilemeso farm in Isan-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendant unlawfully grazed his cattle on the farm and willfully damaged crops worth N5 million, belonging to one Emmanuel Nasoma and others.

Mr Oriyomi also alleged that the defendant also permitted his cattle under his control to graze on the farm of the complainant and others and willfully damaged his crops worth N5 million.

According to him, the offence contravened Section 365 and 2(1) and punishable under Section 7 of the Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing law in Ekiti State, 2016.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file and assemble his witnesses.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Counsel to the defendant, Gbenga Ariyibi, urged the court to grant the defendant bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Oct. 7 for hearing.

(NAN)