The police in Ekiti State have charged a 20-year-old cow rearer, Mohamadu Bello, for allegedly destroying farm products worth N3.8 million belonging to four individuals.
Inspector Elijah Adejare, the police prosecutor, told the court on Thursday that the defendant committed the act on August 10 at Ido Ile, Ekiti.
Adejare claimed that the defendant, who is a cattle rearer, maliciously damaged the farm produce worth N300,000 belonging to one Awiye Olusola.
“The defendant allegedly maliciously damaged agricultural produce worth N2.8 million belonging to one Oni Samson.
“The defendant maliciously damaged agricultural products worth N300,000 belonging to one Igbalajobi Adeyomi.
“The defendant allegedly deliberately damaged agricultural products worth N400,000 belonging to one Akinola Sunday.
“The offences committed contravened Sections 363 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.” Adejare asked the court for an adjournment so he could review the case file and present his witnesses.
Mr Adeyemi Egbebi, the defendant’s counsel, requested the court to give him bail with the condition that he would not jump bail.
The defendant was granted bail in the amount of N80,000 with one surety in the same amount by Chief Magistrate Mr. Bankole Oluwasanmi, who also postponed the matter till September 6 for a hearing.
This came as another Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, presided over by Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted bail to two men, Hammed Abdulrasheed, 22, and Abiodun Aluko, 42, who were charged with allegedly stealing a motorbike.
Sergeant Alice Ojo, the police prosecutor, informed the court that the defendants (22-year-old Abdurasheed and 42-year-old Aluko) allegedly committed the act on August 6 in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Ojo said that the defendant, Abdurasheed, stole one Bajaj motorbike valued at N1.2 million belonging to one Ogundipe Babasanmi.
“ The defendant, Aluko, owns a Bajaj motorcycle worth N1.2 million.
“The offences committed contravened sections 302 and 343 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021,” the prosecutor claimed. The prosecutor requested a brief adjournment to allow her to review the case file and present witnesses. Mr Adeyemi Egbebi, counsel for the defendants, requested the court to give them bail with the condition that they would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N250,000 with one surety each in the same amount and adjourned the matter till September 27 for hearing.
Final Thoughts
The legal proceedings against the 20-year-old defendant, Mohamadu Bello, indicate that the state is attempting to address the issue through the judicial system, which is a positive step.
However, the underlying issues that lead to such conflicts like land use, grazing rights, and the movement of cattle requires more comprehensive and long-term solutions beyond the courts.
