Police drag two men to court for allegedly attacking community leaders with guns, cutlasses, destroying N10m economic trees

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The Police in Osun State have dragged two men, Mohammed Wakeel Ayinla, aged 63 and Yekini Akeem, aged 38, before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo for allegedly attacking some people with guns and cutlass over land.

They were also accused of destroying economic trees worth N10 million at Egbedi community in the state in April, 2024.

Ayinla and Akeem were said to have forced themselves into a landed property belonging to the community.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Lamidi Rasaki informed the court that the defendants willfully and unlawfully damaged an erected sign post valued yet unknown, which belonged to the Egbedi community.

“That you Mohammed Wakeel Ayinla and Yekinni Akeem did willfully and unlawfully damage the the following cash crops: (1) Cocoa plantation (2) Palm trees (3) Kolanut plantation and other economical trees valued Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00), property belonging to Egbedi community represented by Azeez Abioye, Ayandiran Rasheed, Chief Issa Surajudeen and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 451 of the criminal code 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“You did threaten the life of Azeez Abioye, Ayandiran Rasheed, Chief Issa Surajudeen and others with dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, axes and other dangerous weapons and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 86 of the criminal code 34 Vol.11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002,” some of the charges read.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the accusations. The defence prayed the court for bail and promised to attend their trial religiously.

Presiding Magistrate, A. Adeyeba granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties each in the same amount.

According to him, the sureties are to community leaders who must provide evidence of payment of three years tax clearance.

The matter was adjourned till September 10 for mention.