The Police, on Thursday, arraigned three persons before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court over alleged destruction of the forestry.
The defendants, Paker Abalon, 35, Ogbo Ogbu, 30 and Akpan Godwin, 25 are facing a charge bordering on the destruction of forestry.
The prosecutor, Insp. Olubu Apata, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on March 16 at about 1.00 p.m. at the Government Reserve Area in Ise -Ekiti.
Apata told the court that the defendants cut 156 stumps of economic trees valued at N750,000, property of Ekiti State Government.
He said that the defendants also cultivate crops on the land without permission, erect building and damage forestry.
He said that the offence contravenes Section 95(1) (f) (i) and (k) of Ekiti State Forestry Law 2016.
The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Their counsel, Mr Olarewaju Oluwasola, urged the court to grant them bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Ajibade, granted the defendants N50,000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case until April 22 for a hearing.
(NAN)