Police Arraign 80-Year-old Prince For Alleged Property Damage, Breach Of Peace In Ondo

BOLU-OLU ESHO, Akure

Police has arraigned an 80-year-old prince from Bolorunduro, Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State, Prince Adefusi Adebisi, for willful destruction of property and breach of peace.

Appearing before a Magistrate’s Court, the Police accused Adebisi and others, who are still at large, of trespassing on land belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi and destroying economic trees valued at N247 million.

According to the charge sheet with Charge No. MBD/8C/2025), the accused allegedly committed the offence on November 25, 2024 at Omilosu via Bolorunduro.

The Police Prosecutor H. A. Olagbaju told the court that the defendant’s actions were likely to incite a breach of the peace.

The three-count charge pressed against Adebisi include conspiracy to commit forcible entry, malicious damage, and trespassing.

The charge sheet reads thus: “That you, Prince Adefusi Adebisi, and others at large, on or about the 25th day of November 2024, at Omilosu via Bolorunduro, Ondo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to commit a felony, to wit: forcible entry, malicious damage to properties, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Vol I. Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Prince Adefusi Adebisi, and others at large, on or about the 25th day of November 2024, at Omilosu via Bolorunduro, Ondo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, wilfully and unlawfully destroyed plantain, cocoa, kolanut, and palm trees valued at Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Million Naira (₦247,000,000.00) belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo Adekahunsi, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Vol I. Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Prince Adefusi Adebisi, and others at large, on or about the 25th day of November 2024, at Omilosu via Bolorunduro, Ondo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, entered land which is in actual and peaceable possession of Reverend David Akinadewo Adekahunsi, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 81 of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Vol I. Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In his application for bail, the defence counsel, Mr. E. O. Edo, arguing that the defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty and assuring the court of his client’s readiness to attend all hearings.

Handing down her ruling on the application, Senior Magistrate Mrs. Mike Akinbola granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, provide evidence of two years of tax clearance, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and submit their National Identification Numbers (NIN).

However, the case was adjourned to March 5, 2025 for hearing, directing the prosecutor to file all necessary proof of evidence before the next sitting.