Three farmers were on Friday docked in an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly stealing 10 kegs of 30-litre jerrycan of palm oil.

Johnson Akinluwa, 85, Oluwafemi Akinkunmi, 60, and Olaoluwa Igbasan, 35 were charged with a felony, theft, and malicious damage.

Prosecution counsel, Zedekiah Orogbemi, said the defendants on October 17, 2021, around 7:45 a.m. in Igbo Odetin village, Okitipupa Magisterial district stole 10 kegs of 30-litre palm oil worth N230,000.

He also said that the defendants maliciously damaged two baskets of palm fruits worth N50,000 and palm fruits plantation, property of a housewife, Sekinat Akinagbe.

Mr Orogbemi said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 517, 451, and 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

Chief Magistrate Chris Ojuola admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 each and one surety each in like sum.

Mr Ojuola ordered that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case until February 28 for further hearing of the matter.

(NAN)