Two labourers — Timilehin Arogundade, 22, and Babatunde Oludasa, 23, were on Thursday arraigned in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court, Ondo State, for allegedly stealing 80 bunches of palm fruits valued at N50,000.

The defendants of no fixed addresses are standing trial on a two-count charge of felony and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused persons on August 7 around 6:30 a.m. at Igbo Igbonran village in Okitipupa, conspired to commit the offence.

He said that they were employed as labourers to work on the farmland belonging to one Mathew Philip.
The prosecutor alleged that they stole 80 bunches of palm fruits ready to be processed into palm oil after being paid their wages.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390(9), of Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge levelled against them.

The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N20,000 each and a surety each in like sums.

He adjourned the case until Sept. 19 for further hearing.