Woman Charged Over N5m Plantain Theft in Ogun

(Plantain. Photo Credit: The News Chronicle)

A magistrates’ court in Abeokuta has charged a 35-year-old woman with illegally collecting N5 million worth of plantains from a commercial farm.

Emmanuel Grace, arraigned on Thursday on two counts of conspiracy and theft, entered a plea of not guilty.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant gained unauthorised access to the premises of LONSTEL FARM LTD around 1 p.m. on August 8 at Sogoyinbo Village and harvested multiple bunches of plantains prior to maturation.

Security personnel at the facility apprehended her and handed her over to law enforcement.

The state’s case asserts that the harvested produce was valued at N5 million and that the alleged conduct contravened statutory provisions governing theft and conspiracy offences under the jurisdiction’s criminal legislation.

The presiding magistrate granted the defendant bail of N1 million with surety in an equal amount, stipulating that the surety must be a registered bondsman with the state’s judicial system.

The matter has been adjourned until late September for substantive hearing.