A 25-year-old man, Bamidele Tunde, on Thursday appeared before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing five kilograms of cocoa beans valued at N50,000.
The defendant, whose house address was not provided, is being tried on two count charges of forceful entry and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde AbdulKareem, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on April 12, at about 5:00 pm at Sekunde village via Garage Ilode in Ifetedo Ife South Local Government Area of Osun.
AbdulKareem stated that the defendant unlawfully and forcefully entered a cocoa farm belonging to one Gabriel Oluwasegun, using a show of force that caused apprehension and a breach of peace.
He added that the defendant trespassed onto the farm, which was under the actual and peaceful possession of Oluwasegun.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened sections 81, 383 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Mudasiru Raheem, applied for the bail of the defendant in the most liberal term with a promise that his client would not jump bail, but would provide responsible sureties.
Magistrate Taofeek Badmus granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
Badmus, however, ordered the remand of the defendant at the Ile-Ife Correctional Service facility pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
He adjourned the case until June 2, for hearing.
