Two Men Docked For Destroying 22 Acres Of Farmland, Attempted Murder
Two men, Tomiwa Aro and Ismaila Ahmed, were Thursday, arraigned before an Ogun State Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ifo, on alleged conspiracy, attempted murder, forcible entry, assault; conduct likely to breach public peace and destruction of Teak trees and cassava crop valued over N40 million.
Both Tomiwa and Ismaila were arraigned on the alleged offences before the court presided over by Chief Magistrate A. O. Sodeinde, by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning the defendants said they committed the offences with others now at large, at Mowo Village, in Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, on February 22, 2022.
Animashaun told the court that the defendants alongside others now at large, conspired among themselves with the support of thugs they hired, forcibly entered a farm land measuring 22 acres, belonging to one Martin Iluyomade, and destroyed Teak trees and cassava crops both valued N40 million.
He further told the court that during the unlawful invasion of Iluyomade’s farmland, the defendants, while armed with locally made guns, sticks and other dangerous weapons, hit the trio of Ganiyu Ajasa; Ibrahim Opeyemi and Yaya Ishau, on the head and other parts of the body and caused them bodily harm and injuries.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendants contravened Sections 516, 29, 355, 451; 81 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State, Revised Criminal Laws of Ogun State, 2006, and punishable under the same law.
However, both Tomiwa and Ismaila denied Allegation and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date and further urged the court to remand them in the correctional center.
But their lawyer, Monzor Owoyemi, orally applied to court for his clients’ bail, which was granted. They were admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Sodeinde also ordered that the sureties must show to court evidence of three years tax payment to Ogun State government, means of livelihood.
The Magistrate, while adjourning to June 17, for trial ordered that the defendant be remanded in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the perfection of the bail terms.
