Police Arraign 64 – Year – Old Prophet Over N247m Property Damage In Ondo
•By Admin
AKURE – A 64-year-old Prophet, Apostle Adefiju Boluwaji, has been arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday over alleged malicious damage, criminal trespass, and breach of peace.
The Zone 17 Police Command arrested the accused, who had been on its wanted list for some time, over the weekend at Bolorunduro Divisional Headquarters in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.
Boluwaji was arrested for allegedly being an accomplice of 80-year-old Prince Adebisi Adefusi, who is currently facing trial at the Bolorunduro Magistrates’ Court for allegedly storming and destroying property belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi, a prominent figure in the area.
Police Prosecutor Adebayo Sulaiman, told the court that Boluwaji and unnamed associates allegedly invaded some farmlands situated at Omilosu via Bolorunduro on November 25, 2024.
The prosecution said there was an act of brazen and ruinous destruction.
According to the court documents, the respondents allegedly decimated plantain, cocoa, kolanut, and palm trees valued at a staggering N247 million, belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi.
The charge sheet stated that Boluwaji and his gang forcibly entered land in the peaceful possession of the Reverend in a manner “likely to cause a breach of the peace,” thus igniting serious legal and communal tensions.
The charge sheet reads: “That you Adefiju Boluwaji and others at large on or about the 25th day of November 2024 did conspire to commit Felony to wit: trespass into the possession of land situate at Omilosu via Bolorunduro within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire to commit Felony to wit: forcible entry, malicious damage to properties and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Adefiju Boluwaji 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 wilfully and unlawfully destroyed Plantain, Cocoa, Colanut, and palm trees valued Two Hundred and Forty Seven Million Naira (247,000,000.00) belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo Adekahunsi and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Adefiju Boluwaji 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, in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace enter on 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. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
But Boluwaji pleaded not guilty to all charges read against him.
The respondent’s attorney, Oguntuwase, urged the court to grant Boluwaji bail on liberal terms, arguing that the offences were bailable and that the defendant was prepared to stand trial.
In his response, the prosecution counter,ed, saying the accused had evaded arrest for months and should only be granted bail under stringent conditions.
The presiding Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, however, granted the respondent bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The Chief Magistrate also added that each surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and swear an affidavit of means.
The Chief Magistrate, therefore, transferred the case to the Bolorunduro Magistrates’ Court, where proceedings will resume on September 15, 2025.
•INDEPENDENTNG.