Ekiti: 3 herdsmen arraigned in court for destroying rice farm
- Three herdsmen have been arraigned in court for alleged unlawful destruction of a rice farm worth N4.5 million
- They were arraigned by the police on a count charge of malicious damage before Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye
- The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them, while the case was adjourned until Monday, February 24 for hearing
A magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital on Tuesday, January 21 arraigned three herdsmen for alleged unlawful destruction of a rice farm worth N4.5 million.
The Nation reports that the accused persons are Nafiu Mohammed (20), Mohammed Audu (20) and Bumba Karba (17).
According to the report, they were arraigned by the police on a count charge of malicious damage before Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye.
Prosecuting Inspector Johnson Okunade said the defendants committed the offence on Tuesday, January 7, at a farm settlement in Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti West local government area.
Source: UGC
He said total damage caused by the accused person to the farm belonging to the complainant, Mr Olusola Sanni was N4.5 million
He noted that the offences contravened section 451 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
Their counsel, Mr Busuyi Ayorinde, urged the court to grant the defendants bail, promising it that they would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, in his ruling granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until Monday, February 24 for hearing.
Meanwhile, the Fulani cattle rearers association, an umbrella body for herdsmen, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore says the support for the newly launched security outfit in the southwest, Operation Amotekun by leaders in the region, shows how primitive Yoruba people are in politics.
Alhassan Saleh, national secretary of the group, stated this when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television on Monday, January 20.
He berated the Yoruba intelligentsia and political class for supporting the initiative, alleging that the security outfit is geared towards halting the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the southwest.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Last week, Saleh had in an interview with a national newspaper, stated that Amotekun could cost the southwest the presidency in 2023.
Recall that the president-general of the group, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo has called on the federal government to arrest Yoruba leaders promoting Operation Amotekun.
Bodejo who made the statement in an interview alleged that the aim of setting up the security outfit by southwest governors was to ban Fulani herdsmen from Yorubaland.
His words: “Anything security should be left with those security organisations, so, I don’t know the reason for this one from the southwest, except that it has a sinister motive.”
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better
Operation Amotekun: Should it be replicated in other regions? Nigerians react | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
