A Fulani herdsman, Muhammad Abdullahi, will spend one year in jail for openly grazing his cattle in Benue State.
The Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Mr Isaac Ajim, was convicted for violating the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017, of Benue State.
The convict is from Mahanga Village, Awe Local Government Area of Nassarawa State.
When the case came up, the Police Prosecuting Officer, ASP Gbakor Hyacinth told the Court that the State Commander of the Livestock Guards, Mr Linus Zaki and his team arrested the accused on March 2nd, 2020, around 19:30hrs along Guma Village of Guma Local Government with cows grazing openly, contrary to section 19(2) of Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.
When the charges were read and interpreted to the herdsman in the Hausa language, he pleaded guilty to the charges.
However, counsel to the accused, Mr T.I Ikyagba however pleaded for leniency to the accused, adding that the accused did not waste the time of the court as he accepted his crime and he is a first offender.
Delivering the judgment, the Presiding Judge, Mr Ajim after hearing the plea for leniency, the accused was sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N500, 000.
In the same vein, two other Fulani Herdsmen, Ibrahim Audu and Muhammadu Usman, both from Tudun Amba village of Lafia Local Government of Nassarawa State were arraigned for criminal conspiracy and mischief by fire.
According to the Prosecuting Police Officer, the State Commander of the Livestock Guards, Mr. Linus Zaki and his team brought the accused persons and reported that at about 15:30hrs while they were on patrol along Tom Village of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the herdsmen attacked the Livestock Guards and in the process burnt Hilux vehicle, an act contrary to section 337 of the penal code law of Benue State, 2004.
The Herdsmen pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, however, told the Court that investigation is still in progress and asked for another date.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ajim granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 and one surety in like sum who must own landed property within Makurdi metropolis.
The case was adjourned to April 21, 2020 for further mention.
