A 20-year-old herdsman, Usman Abubakar, has been arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over allegations of destroying crops valued at N300,000 and assaulting a resident in Oyo State.
The defendant was brought before the court on Monday to face charges of conspiracy, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage, but pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The prosecution counsel, Samuel Owolabi, told the court that the alleged offences occurred at about 11 a.m. on September 25 in Ido Local Government Area of the state.
Owolabi alleged that Abubakar and other individuals still at large damaged maize and pepper crops belonging to Boniface Onyekwelu, causing losses estimated at N300,000.
He further alleged that the defendant allowed his cattle to graze on the farm, an act the prosecution said was capable of causing a breach of public peace.
The prosecution also accused Abubakar of assaulting a resident, Korede Asu, allegedly causing him to lose his upper teeth.
Owolabi said the offences contravened Sections 516, 355 and 451 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The presiding magistrate, Gladys Olanrewaju, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.
She directed that two of the sureties must be owners of landed property.
The court adjourned the case until November 16 for hearing.
