By Charles Pemu 
ILE-IFE — A 59-year-old man, Sunday Jimoh, was arraigned before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court on Friday for allegedly stealing cocoa beans valued at N1 million. Jimoh pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge that includes stealing, malicious damage, and breach of the peace.
According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Adesina Elijah, the defendant committed the offenses on August 11 at Itamarun Village, Ile-Ife. Elijah alleged that Jimoh forcefully entered a farm belonging to the complainant, Mr. Ewu Tojola, and not only stole the cocoa beans but also unlawfully destroyed several “economic trees” on the property. He further claimed that the defendant’s actions were likely to breach the peace.
The defense counsel, Mr. Martins Awe, requested that the court grant his client bail on liberal terms, assuring that he would not abscond. The Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Adebayo, subsequently granted Jimoh bail in the amount of N500,000 with one surety. The surety must be a blood relative of the defendant, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and provide evidence of three years of tax payment to the Osun State Government.
The case was adjourned for further hearing.