Court Remands 4 Men For Cocoa Farm Grabbing

An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of four men: Bello Moshood, 55, Adebayo Raimi,69, Adebayo Hammed, 49 and Adesola Adebayo,55, for alleged cocoa farmland grabbing.

The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, are facing charges bordering on forceful entry, illegal occupation and land grabbing.

Their counsel, Mr Musibau Raheem, applied for bail on the most liberal terms, promising that they would not abscond.

The Magistrate, Mrs Abosede Sarumi, refused their bail but ordered their remand at the Police Station, Area Commander’s Office, Moore Ile-Ife.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she transferred the case to Ifetedo Magistrates’ Court, for mention today.

Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on February 20, around 1:00 p.m. at Onilare Village via Ile-Ife.

Abdullahi alleged that the defendants conspired to commit a felony, to wit: forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed property.

He alleged that the defendants unlawfully and forcefully entered and grabbed a cocoa farm, which is in actual and peaceable possession of Mr Olalekan Adebayo and Sooko Adebayo.

According to him, the offence contravened Sections 3(1), (2), (3b) and was punishable under Section 4 of the Osun State, Nigeria Forceful Entry and Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties (Prohibition) Laws, 2019.