Former Osun Council Chairman, Others Sentenced To 4-year Jail

For guilty of conspiracy to commit felony, damage, and destruction of farmland, the former Chairman of Iwo West Local Council Development Area in Osun State, Tajudeen Babatunde, and five others were sentenced to four years in prison by an Osun State Magistrate Court in Osogbo on Thursday.

In the suit prosecuted by Mikaheel Idris from the Ministry of Justice, representing the complainant, the Oosa Olaniyi family of Iwo, alleged Kasumu Arohunfesu, an octogenarian, Sunday Ajoko, Kohonu Deboye, Adeoye Alabi, and Jonas John over conspiracy to commit felony, damage, and destruction of farmland arrlunu February 16, 2019, at Ayigbiri Orupekere farm in Iwo.

After evidences were presented against the convicts for destroying 400 palm trees and other economic trees valued at N10 million and subsequently set the farm on fire, Magistrate Abimbola affirmed that the evidences against the defendants were overwhelming and beyond any reasonable doubt.

However, Famuyide, convicted and sentenced them to four years in prison.

Earlier, the counsel to the convicts, Laide Yekini, urged the court to temper justice with mercy on his clients by giving them an option of a fine.

Magistrate Famuyide sentenced each of the convicts to four years on counts one and four, and two years each on counts two and three.

The magistrate, however, considered the age of Arohunfesu (under age) and gave him an option of N80,000 to avoid going to prison.(TheSource)