A 20-year-old man, Lateef Ismaila, has been dragged before a magistrate’s court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State for allegedly stealing over 400 live chickens, two turkeys, a live goat, among others.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Fagboyinbo Abiodun, told the court that Ismaila broke into a poultry farm where he carted away the items.
Abiodun further informed the court that the accused person, aside from stealing the aforementioned items, stole two crates of eggs and two bags of chicken feeds from the poultry.
The charge sheet obtained by our correspondent on Thursday partly read, “That you, Lateef Ismaila, did between the months of May and July, 2016 along Olojo area, New Ring Road, Ataoja Estate, Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District break into a poultry farm belonging to one Akindipe Mariam with intent to commit felony.”
According to the prosecution, the offence allegedly committed by Ismaila contravened Sections 413, 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
But the accused person entered into a not guilty plea on the two-count charge brought against him by the police.
The defence counsel, Bola Adeyinka, applied for Ismaila’s bail, arguing he should be presumed innocent until the contrary was proved.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Fatima Sodamade, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.
Sodamade ordered that the surety must provide evidence of tax payment and submit two passport photographs to the court.
The case was adjourned till August 24, 2016 for mention.
However, the accused could not immediately meet the stringent bail conditions. He was later whisked away to the Ilesa Prison.
