Ondo monarch sentenced to 10 years for destroying church property

A Magistrate Court, in Akure North council area of Ondo state, has sentenced a monarch, the Ajagun Ode of Ode community, Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, to 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully demolishing some property, palm trees and food crops.

The trial Magistrate, Bukola Ojo, sentenced the convict to 10 years after founding him guilty of the charges preferred against him.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Ajiboye Babatunde, said the convict, and others at large destroyed the farm on September 20, 2022

Babatunde equally alleged that the convict unlawfully demolished the perimeter fence of the pastorate and laity of the Church, valued at about one million naira, demolished the Palm trees and food crops valued at about five million and also demolished the signpost of the church.

He further stated that when the monarch was apprehended, he was unable to give a satisfactory account to the police.

Babatunde called four witnesses to testify in court and asked the court to punish him accordingly so as to serve as a deterrent to others who might indulge in a similar act.

But the convict, through his defence counsel, Adeola Kayode, denied the allegations levelled against him. He urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

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

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