Herdsman sentenced to 2 years in prison for illegal grazing

September 20, 2016 12:47 AM

An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in jail for grazing cows in a farm land and destroying crops worth N3 million.

A herdsman identified as

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The convict was sentenced by a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti. The accused was first arraigned in court on a two-count charge of wilful and unlawful damage to farm crops at Ago Aduloju in Ado-Ekiti on January 22.

Four prosecuting witnesses confirmed that 18-year-old Haruna had been caught grazing his cow's at midnight in the farmland belonging to one Abdulahi Yaho and Bello Mohammed.

Crops reportedly destroyed by the cows in the farm included cassava, maize, okro and pepper, which was valued at N3 million.

Defending himself, Haruna told the court that the owner of the cows lived in Illorin Kwara state.

The Magistrate, Idowu Ayenimo, surmised that Haruna's defence lacked credibility and was not believed by the court, convicting the defendant as charged without the option of fine.

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Seeing as the Grazing Law promulgated in the state was not yet in effect at the time the offences was committed, Ayenimo ordered that the minimal term run concurrently.