A 55-year-old man, Stephen Obitade, was on Monday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly seizing church land.
Obitade, whose residential address was not disclosed, is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, land grabbing, malicious damage, and theft.
According to the prosecutor, Elisha Tellang, the offences were committed in 2021 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan. Tellang informed the court that Obitade unlawfully took possession of approximately 12 acres of land belonging to the church of Abiodun Joseph.
The prosecution also alleged that Obitade, along with others still at large, maliciously destroyed perimeter fences and pillars on the property, valued at ₦5 million. In addition, they were accused of stealing iron rods worth ₦850,000 from the site.
Obitade, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Moyosore Atanda granted him bail in the sum of ₦1 million, with two reliable sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned until November 18 for further hearing.
