An Iwo Chief Magistrates Court in Osogbo has sentenced a former Local Government chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Babatunde, to four years in prison for conspiracy, malicious damage, and arson.
The judgement was delivered on Thursday, following a lengthy trial.
Babatunde, who once served as the caretaker chairman of Iwo West Local Council Development Authority, was sentenced alongside three Beninois citizens—Sunday Ajoko, Jonas John, and Kohonu Deboye—and two other individuals, Adeoye Alabi and Kasumu Ajao.
The trial, registered under suit number MIW/68c/2019, culminated in their conviction on all four counts of conspiracy, malicious damage, and arson.
Presiding Magistrate A. Famuyide, after reviewing the evidence, found the prosecution’s case convincing beyond a reasonable doubt.
The six defendants were implicated in the destruction of approximately 400 palm trees and other economically valuable trees, worth around N10 million, on Ayigbiri Orupekere farm along the Iwo/Ibadan road in Iwo, Osun State.
The incident, which took place on or before February 16, 2019, also involved setting the farm ablaze.
Despite the severity of the crimes, Magistrate Famuyide showed leniency towards Ajao, offering him the option of an N80,000 fine due to his advanced age and poor health.
The Oosa Olaniyi family, the nominal complainants, had initially reported the case to the police but later requested the Osun State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution, a request that was granted.
Their counsel, Mr. Dele Abbas, expressed satisfaction with the conviction, even though the court did not grant compensation. Magistrate Famuyide suggested that the family could seek compensation through a separate legal action.
Thursday’s sentencing was attended by the defendants, their counsel Mr. Laide Yekini, the prosecuting counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Mikaheel Idris, and the complainants’ counsel, Mr. Abbas.
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