A former chairman of Iwo West Local Council Development Area in Osun State, Tajudeen Babatunde, along with five others, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for the destruction of farmland.
Babatunde was sentenced alongside octogenarian Kasumu Arohunfesu, Sunday Ajoko, Kohonu Deboye, Adeoye Alabi, and Jonas John by an Osun State Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo on Thursday.
Prosecutor Mikaheel Idris, representing the complainant—the Oosa Olaniyi family in Iwo—stated that the convicts had conspired with others, now at large, on or before February 16, 2019, at Ayigbiri Orupekere farm, Iwo, to commit a felony involving damage to property.
The group was found guilty of destroying 400 palm trees and other economic trees valued at N10 million before setting the farm ablaze.
Presiding Magistrate Abimbola Famuyide, while delivering the judgment, noted that the prosecution had proved the case against the defendants beyond any reasonable doubt.
The defense counsel, Laide Yekini, requested leniency, asking the court to consider an option of a fine.
Magistrate Famuyide sentenced each convict to four years for counts one and four, and two years each for counts two and three.
Considering Arohunfesu’s age, she gave him the option of paying an N80,000 fine to avoid imprisonment.
The magistrate also directed the complainant to seek compensation, restitution, or appeal in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Subscribe to National Updates for more news.
