Four men on Friday, November 29, 2024, appeared before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly damaging economic trees worth N50 million.
The defendants are Bashiru Ige, 60, Abdulahi Bello, 60, Kazeem Folarin, 58 and Raheem Saheed, 45.
The defendants, whose house addresses were not provided, are being tried for charges bordering on land encroachment, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
They, however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Anthony Igori told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Nov. 19, at Oyo town, Oyo State.
Igori alleged that the defendants encroached on the family estate of the complainant, Mr Adekunle Odunewu, and damaged economic trees worth N50 million.
He listed the damaged economic trees to include palm oil, cocoa, cherry, orange and kola nut trees.
Igori said the defendants also maliciously damaged pillars used for demarcation worth N2 million, belonging to Odunewu’s family.
He alleged that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by preventing the Odunewu family from entering their land.
He said the offences contravened Sections 6, 9 of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2016 and Sections 451 and 249(d) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mr Olaolu Olanipekun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each and one surety each in like sum.
He thereafter adjourned the case until Jan. 9, 2025, for hearing.
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
