Police Dock Osun High Chief Over Alleged Threat To Life, Damage Of 1bn Farm Land, Tractors

By Nofisat Marindoti

The Osun State Police Command has arraigned an 82 year old High Chief, Dele Faseru before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly damaging a farm settlement and equipment worth over N1 billion.

Other suspects arraigned along with the Octogenarian include; Chief Mrs. Ayoade Funke (64), Ayoade Adewoye (35) and Isaac Wole Ejalonibu (41).

The suspects were charged on a four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, felony to wit arson, malicious damage and threat to life.

They were also alleged to have threatened to kill the owner of the farm settlement, retired Major Lawrence Loye.

Prosecutor, Adebayo Joseph told the court that the suspects and others who are currently at large, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit arson, malicious damage and threatening to life on February 19, 2017 at Ijebu-Ijesa, Ori-Ade Local Government Area of the state

Adebayo said the accused persons willfully and unlawfully set ablaze the farm settlement and ravaged all the farm produce such as palm trees, plantains and others crops belonging to (Rtd) Major Lawrence Loye.

Other valuables allegedly destroyed by the suspects according to the Prosecutor are one complete building with 24 lecture rooms, transformer 500/33KVA, Tractor (Messy Fegureon), 720 bags of cements, caterpillars pail loader, 12, 800 Plantain/Banana Stands and Over 8000 Pineapple stand and entrance Gate.

He said the total value of the damaged properties worth one billion and fifty nine million naira N1,059,000.

Adebayo also accused the suspects of intimidating and threatening to kill the Rtd Major Loye the owner of the farm. He alleged that the suspects stormed his house with dangerous weapons such as sticks, cutlasses and other threatening to kill him.

The offence according to the Prosecutor was contrary to and punishable under Section 516, 443, 451and 86(1)(2) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun state of Nigeria 2002.

But the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the allegations leveled against them.

The defense counsel, Barrister Dada Adeyinka applied for the bail of the accused persons in the most liberal terms.

Adeyinka who assured the court that the suspects would not jump bail if granted, said reliable sureties would stand for them.

But the Prosecutor objected the bail application on the ground that the suspects have similar case before an Ilesa Magistrate Court.

He argued that should the suspects granted bail they are likely to commit another offence. He also urged the court to put into consideration the money involved in the case

In her ruling, Magistrate Olubukola Awodele, granted all the four accused persons bail in the sum of one million naira each with two sureties in the like sum.

Awodele explained that she granted the accused bail due to the age of the first and second accused persons.

She thereby adjourned the case till January 31, 2018 for mention at the Ijebu Ijesha Chief Magistrate Court.