Ondo monarch sentenced to 10 Years imprisonment for unlawful demolition of property

The Ajagun Ode of Ode community, Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Osi Magistrate Court in Akure North council area of Ondo state for unlawfully demolishing palm trees and food crops.

The monarch was charged with malicious damage and was found guilty by the trial Magistrate, Mrs Bukola Ojo.

According to Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Ajiboye Babatunde, the convict and others at large, conspired to commit felony by unlawfully demolishing the perimeter fence of the pastorate and laity of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, along Ado Ekiti Road Igoba, Akure North.

The damage also included palm trees and food crops worth about five million naira and the signpost of the church.

During the trial, the convict denied the allegations levelled against him and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

However, Magistrate Ojo convicted and sentenced the accused to prison for a period of two years in count one with an option of a fine of N20,000.

Magistrate Ojo sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment each with no option of a fine in counts two and three and another one-year jail term with an option of a fine of N10,000 in count four.

Additionally, the defendant is sentenced to an imprisonment for a period of two years with no option of fine in count five and one year with an option of fine of N20,000 in count six.

The court also awarded the sum of N5 million naira as compensation to the complainant for the damage of the perimeter fence, palm trees, and other crops.

Magistrate Ojo noted that if the convict pays the compensation, the imprisonment would be vacated, and the imprisonment was to run concurrently.

In a separate case relating to land at Kofawe, the court dismissed the claim of the claimant, holding that there was no agreement executed that conferred title or headship of Kofawe on the claimant.

The court also concluded that the claim of the claimant failed in its entirety.

On the counter-claim, the court held that the claimant does not have ownership of the land at Kofawe, and the agreement dated 19th January 1995 in respect of the land at Kurugbene does not confer ownership on the claimant in respect of land at Kofawe.