A Magistrate Court in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has sentenced a monarch, the Ajagun Ode of Ode community, Adewale Sunday Boboye, to 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully demolishing palm trees and food crops.
The trial magistrate, Bukola Ojo, sentenced the convict to 10 years after founding him guilty of the charges preferred against him.
The Police Prosecutor, Ajiboye Babatunde, said the convict, and others at large destroyed the farm on September 20, 2022.
Babatunde equally alleged that the convict unlawfully demolished the perimeter fence of the pastorate and laity of the Church, valued at about one million naira, demolished the palm trees and food crops valued at about five million and also demolished the signpost of the church.
He added that the convict, when arrested, could not give a satisfactory account to the police. Babatunde called four witnesses to testify in court and asked the court to punish him accordingly so as to serve as a deterrent to others who might indulge in a similar act.
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But the convict, through his defence counsel, Adeola Kayode, denied the allegations levelled against him. He urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
While delivering his judgement, Magistrate Ojo, convicted and sentenced the accused to prison for a period of two years in count one with an option of fine of N20,000.
The court, thereafter awarded the sum of N5 million naira as compensation to the complainant for the damage of the perimeter fence, palm trees and other crops.
