Police arraign 2 over alleged N1.4m farm produce damage

The police on Wednesday arraigned two men, Oni Olalere and Muritala Sikiru, before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged malicious damage of farm produce valued at N1.4 million.

The defendants, Olalere, 37, and Sikiru, 42, whose addresses were not provided, are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, threatening violence and malicious damage.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Aug. 10 at about 3.00 p.m. in Ikole-Ekiti.

Oriyomi alleged that the defendants conspired to commit the offences.

He alleged that the defendants threatened the complainant, Yusuf Sanni, with violence by using a cutlass on him.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants maliciously damaged farm produce valued at N1.4 million, belonging to Sanni.

He said the offences contravened Sections 65, 354(1) and 421 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Hassan Salau, urged the court to grant them bail, promising that they would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adosun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Sept. 25 for hearing.