Two men arraigned for setting fire on a palm fruit plantation and maliciously damaging cassava stems worth N2.4 million

Two men were arraigned on Friday, May 23, in an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ondo State, for allegedly setting fire on a palm fruit plantation and maliciously damaging cassava stems worth N2.4 million. 

The police charged Sunday Omopelumi, 45, a farmer and Iseoluwa Adegbehindo, 30, an aluminium fabricator, with felony, arson and malicious damage. 

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendants on April 13, around 3 pm. at Ladan farm in Ode-Aye, Okitipupa magisterial district, conspired to commit a felony. 

Orogbemi said that the defendants trespassed onto farmland belonging to one Pius Apalara, after an argument and set fire on his palm fruits plantation worth N1.4 million.
He added that the defendants also maliciously damaged some young cassava stems worth N800,000. 

The offence, he said, is punishable under Sections 516, 445(a) and 451, Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006. 

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olanrewaju Àdelegan, admitted them to bail in the sum of N200,000 each and a surety each in like sum. 

He ordered that the sureties who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, must show and present evidence of two years tax payment made to the state government. 

He adjourned the case until June 3 for further hearing.