A 50-year-old farmer, Tosin Megbotihan, on Friday appeared before the Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged malicious damage of farm crops worth N400,000.

The defendant, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge of felony, forceful entry, and malicious damage.

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodeji Omoyeigha, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 15 at a farmland along Ayeka-Igbodigo Road, in Okitippupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area.

He said the defendant forcefully entered farmland belonging to the complainant, Kunle Agbeniyi, over an undisclosed argument and destroyed young cassava and maize farms worth N400,000.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 516, 81, and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

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

The chief magistrate, Mayowa Olanipekun, granted the defendant N100,000 bail and one surety in like sum.

He added that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide evidence of two years of tax payments to the state government.

He adjourned the case until October 24 for further hearing. 

(NAN)