BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have dragged two farmers before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing some cocoa pods and seeds belonging to a police officer, Jimoh Wuwaliu; and two siblings, Alade and Nureni Olaniyi.
The accused farmers, Jimoh Abeeden, 20; and Muideen Tafa, 29, were said to have trespassed into the plaintiffs’ farmlands to steal their produce.
Police prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Suleiman, informed the court that the duo conspired and committed the offence at about 3pm at Egan-Aje village, near Ifon-Osun community, on November 16, 2021.
Suleiman said that the farmers conspired to steal 87 cocoa pods and half a bag of cocoa seeds, valued at N1,370,000, adding that the defendants threatened violence during their arrest by the police.
The charge against the two farmers read that “Jimoh Abeeden of Kewo’s compound, Ilobu; and Muideen Tafa of Janta area, Ifon, Osun, on November 16, 2021, at about 3pm at Egan-Aje village via Ifon-Osun, did conspire to commit felony and did steal cocoa valued N1,370,000, property of Olaniyi Alade, Olaniyi Nureni, and Jimoh Muwaliu.”
According to the prosecution, the defendants committed offences contrary to sections 516 and 383, and punishable under sections 390(9) and 86(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State, Nigeria.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the three counts leveled against them. Their counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, prayed the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
Magistrate A. O. Odeleye granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety each in the same amount.
Odeleye further ruled that the sureties, with valid means of identification, must be owners of landed property within the Ifon-Osun axis.
Odeleye ordered that the stolen items be sold to prevent them from going bad, and that the proceeds be remitted to court.
The case was adjourned till December 22 for hearing.
