Police on Friday arraigned a 56-year-old farmer, Roland Adekunle, before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State, over alleged malicious damage of young palm trees worth N750,000
The defendant, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge bordering on misdemeanor and malicious damage, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the defendant and one other at large on Sept. 11, 2025 at about 10.00 a.m at a plantation along Okitipupa-Ikoya road, Okitipupa, in Okitipupa Magisterial District, conspired to commit misdemeanor.
Orogbemi alleged that defendant and one other at large forcefully entered a farmland in possession of one Gbemi Ikuesan and destroy some young palm trees valued N750,000 over an undisclosed argument with the owner.
The prosecutor said that the defendant committed the offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 517 and 457, Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olarenwaju Adelegan, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in the like sum.
He ruled that such surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
He added that the surety must also show and present evidence of two years tax payment made to the state government as part of the bail conditions.
He adjourned the case until Feb. 12, for further hearing.
