BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Osun State Police Command has arraigned a 30-year-old man, Nureni Musa, for allegedly threatening the life of a clergyman with charm, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
Musa was said to have, hitherto, destroyed some economic trees on farmland in possession of the cleric.
The man was dragged before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo where he faced a five-count-charge bordering on willful damage, threat to life and abusing police administrative bail.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Lamidi Rasaq, informed the court that the defendant, sometimes in 2021 at Oke-Erinso area in Iragbiji, forcefully entered a landed farm property belonging to the Faronbi family, represented by their children, Pastor Johnson Faronbi, Mrs. Victoria Faronbi, Mrs. Adebayo Victoria Faronbi and others.
Rasaq alleged that Musa took over the landed property forcefully and unlawfully damaged some kola nut trees and other economic trees, the value of which had yet to be determined.
He added that Musa, who threatened the life of the cleric and members of his family with charms, cutlass and other dangerous weapons, failed to show up at the police station after being granted bail.
The charge brought against the defendant read that “You (Musa) did threaten the life of Pastor Johnson Faronbi and his family members with cutlasses, charms and other dangerous weapons.
“You (Musa), on June 8, 2021, at the Zone Xi Police headquarters, Osogbo, did carry out an act of disrespect to the said offence when you were granted police administrative bail and were instructed to report back on the same date. Instead of you reporting, you ran away.”
The prosecutor said that the accused person committed offences contrary to and punishable under sections 86, 133(9), and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun.
He also stated that the defendant contravened sections 4, 2 (1 and 2) of forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties (prohibition) Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2019 punishable under Section 3.
Musa pleaded not guilty to the allegations and his counsel, M. O. Adebowale, urged the court to grant his client bail.
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in the same amount.
According to Ayilara, the sureties, one of whom must be a serving civil servant in the state and the other a house owner, must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
In addition, he said that the surety who is a house owner must furnish the court with valid documents of his property.
He then ordered that the case should be transferred to the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Iragbiji for mention on October 3.
