Police arraign 4 herdsmen over alleged theft of 52 cattle

Four persons were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 52 head of cattle valued at N10 million.

The defendants, Musa Mohammed, 30, Suleiman Musa, 65, Ibrahim Musa, 35 and Ali Mohammed,45, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a count charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Sept. 23 at about 10:00 a.m., in Ilupeju-Ekiti.

Adeniyi alleged that the defendants stole the 52 head of cattle valued at N10 million belonging to one Mr Tope Ajayi.

He said the complainant gave the herd of cattle to the defendants to rear for him and when he needed some for a function was told that they were stolen.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 302 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses and produce them to give evidence in court.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Timi Omotosho, urged the court to grant his clients bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mrs Dolapo Kay-Williams, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N250,000 each and ordered them to provide two sureties each to stand for them.

She adjourned the case till Nov.11 for hearing.