A 19-year-old cattle rearer, Usman Kehinde, was, on Friday, arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged malicious damage of farm crops. The defendant, whose address was not provided, is standing trial on a charge of malicious damage.
The Prosecutor, Insp Elijah Adejare, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 7, at about 9 a.m. in Ado-Ekiti.
Adejare said that the defendant maliciously damaged farm produce, such as yam, cassava, rice and potatoes, all valued at about N600,000, belonging to one Ajiboye Sunday.
Adejare said that the offence contravened Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. He urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to study the file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Olumide Olowolafe, urged the court to grant his client bail, with a promise that he would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Bankole Oluwasanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N80,000, with one surety in like sum. He adjourned the case till Sept. 6 for hearing. (NAN)
