Three middle-aged men have been arraigned in court for allegedly stealing bunches of palm kernel fruit valued at N35,000 in Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government.
The suspected thieves, identified as Deji Gbenga, 24; Seyi Francis, 22 and Daniel Francis, appeared before the Magistrate Court sitting in Okitipupa after they were nabbed by policemen.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Zedekiah Orogbemi, he told the court that the suspects and others now at large at about 6pm, invaded the premises of Ojuola Plantation Estate which is the property of Okitipupa Oil Palm Company on May 27, 2019 to commit the crime.
Inspector Orogbemi added that the accused committed the offence contrary to section 83 and punishable under section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 volume 1 of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
However, the trio pleaded not guilty to the crime.
The presiding Magistrate, D.O Ogunfuyi, subsequently granted each of the defendant’s bail in the sum of N100,000, with surety each in like sum, whom he said must produce an evidence of tax payment and residence within the court’s jurisdiction.
He ordered that the defendants should be remanded in Okitipupa prison pending when they perfect their bail conditions.
The case was then adjourned till June 19, 2019.
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