Osun Govt. Arraigns 3 For Illegal Felling In Forest Reserve

 

Ismaeel Uthman

THE State Government of Osun has arraigned three farmers, Emmanuel Igwe, Emmanuel Friday and Sulaimon Aliyu before an Osogbo Magistrate Court, for illegal entry into the government’s forest reserve. 

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, the accused persons, on May 19, 2023 unlawfully entered Shasha Forest Reserve, Area 4, Osogbo area and maliciously damaged economic trees.  

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Moses Faremi from the Department of Public Prosecution, Osun State Ministry of Justice told the court that the damaged trees was valued a sum of N3m.

The accused persons were alleged of felling the trees to plant cocoa seedlings. 

But they pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The charge sheet reads: “That you Emmanuel Igwe, Emmanuel Friday and Sulaimon Aliyu on the 19th day of May 2023 at Shasha Forest Reserve, Area 4, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, illegally entered Government Forest Reserves and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(g) of the Forestry Laws of Osun State, 2002.

“That you Emmanuel Igwe, Emmanuel Friday and Sulaimon Aliyu at the same date and time in the aforementioned Magisterial District, maliciously damaged economic trees worth One Million, Five Hundred Thousand (1,500,000) which is the property of Osun State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 81 of the Criminal Code Laws of Osun State, 2002”.

“That you Emmanuel Igwe, Emmanuel Friday and Sulaimon Aliyu, at the same date and time in the same Magisterial District illegally fell economic trees worth One Million, Five Hundred Thousand (#1,500,000) which is the property of Osun State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 44(4) Cap. 46, Laws of Osun State, 2002”.

Magistrate Abike Daramola remanded the defendants at Ilesa custodial centre and adjourned the case till June 13, 2023 for hearing.