A 40-year-old man, Olarewaju Mustapha, was on Thursday brought before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti on allegations of stealing goats.
Mustapha, who has no fixed address, is facing a charge of theft. He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, the defendant and some accomplices, who are still at large, allegedly committed the offence around 10 p.m. on May 1 at Ipole Iloro-Ekiti.
Inspector Oriyomi told the court that five goats, valued at N600,000, were stolen and that Mustapha was caught by members of the community before being handed over to the police.
The offence, he said, violates Section 302(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
He requested a short adjournment to allow time for review of the case file and preparation of witnesses.
The defendant’s counsel, Michael Olaleye, appealed for bail, assuring the court that his client would not flee.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with