Three farmers were on Friday docked in an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly stealing 10 kegs of a 30-liter jerrycan of palm oil

The police charged Johnson Akinluwa, 85; Oluwafemi Akinkunmi, 60, and Olaoluwa Igbasan, 35 with felony, theft, and malicious damage.

The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendants on Oct. 17, 2021, around 7.45 a.m in Igbo Odetin village in Ode-Aye, Okitipupa Magisterial district stole 10 kegs of 30-litre of palm oil worth N230,000.

He also said that the defendants maliciously damaged two baskets of palm fruits worth N50,000 and palm fruits plantation, property of a housewife, Sekinat Akinagbe.

Orogbemi said that the offense contravened the provisions of sections 517, 451, and 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

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Chief Magistrate Chris Ojuola admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 each and one surety each in like sum.

Ojuola ordered that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case until Feb. 28 for further hearing of the case.