A 50-year-old farmer, Tosin Megbotihan, has been arraigned before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly destroying farm crops valued at N400,000.
The accused, whose address was not disclosed, faces a three-count charge of felony, unlawful entry, and malicious damage.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. Ayodeji Omoyeigha, the defendant committed the offences on June 15 at a farmland located along the Ayeka–Igbodigo road in Okitipupa Local Government Area.
Omoyeigha said Megbotihan allegedly trespassed onto a farm belonging to one Kunle Agbeniyi following a disagreement and destroyed young cassava and maize plants estimated at N400,000.
He stated that the offences contravened Sections 516, 81, and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Mayowa Olanipekun granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
He ruled that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and present evidence of two years’ tax payment to the state government.
The case was adjourned until Oct. 24 for further hearing.
(NAN)
