Three friends were on Wednesday docked in an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged malicious damage of rubber trees worth N1.2 million.
The police Rotimi Ogungbemi, 45, Akinlose Ogungbemi, 51 and Segun Woye, 42 , whose addresses were not given with felony, malicious damage and threat to life..
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Ayodeji Omoyeigha told the court that the defendants on April 5, around 08:00 a.m at Odole in Igbodigo, Okitipupa magisterial district conspired to commit felony.
Omoyeigha said that the defendants tresspased into the farmland of one Thompson Aiyeku over undisclosed dispute and maliciously damaged rubber trees worth N1.2 million.
The prosecutor said that the defendants also threatened to kill Aiyeku.
Omoyeigha, said that the offence is punishable under Sections 517, 86 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 Patrick Ajele, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500, 000 each and a surety each in like sum.
He also held that the sureties who must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, must present evidence of two years tax payment made to the state government.
He, adjourned the case until Aug. 27 for further hearing.
