Police on Monday arraigned 55-year-old Stephen Obitade before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly grabbing land belonging to a church.
Obitade, whose address was not disclosed, faced charges of conspiracy, land grabbing, malicious damage, and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Elisha Tellang, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in 2021 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan.
Tellang alleged that Obitade unlawfully took possession of about 12 acres of land belonging to the church of Apostle Abiodun Joseph.
He further said the defendant and others still at large maliciously damaged the property’s perimeter fence and pillars valued at N5 million and stole iron rods worth N850,000.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened Section 4 of the Real Property Law of Oyo State, 2016, as well as Sections 516, 451, and 390(9) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
Obitade pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Moyosore Atanda granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two reliable sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until 18 November for hearing.
(NAN)
