A 55-year-old man, Stephen Obitade, was on Monday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly seizing land belonging to a church.
Obitade, whose address was not disclosed, is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, land grabbing, malicious damage, and stealing.
The police prosecutor, Elisha Tellang, told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the offences in 2021 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Tellang alleged that Obitade unlawfully took possession of about 12 acres of land belonging to the Church of Abiodun Joseph.
He further claimed that the defendant and his accomplices destroyed the property’s perimeter fence and pillars valued at ₦5 million and stole iron rods worth ₦850,000.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Moyosore Atanda granted Obitade bail in the sum of ₦1 million with two reliable sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until November 18 for hearing.