Sitting in the District Court of Aker, Odo, Dan-Bello was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating the state’s anti-open grazing law and destroying crops worth 50 million n5 billion N.
The criminal was arraigned for five charges involving conspiracy, illegal grazing, malicious damage, violation of peace and illegal entry. He was convicted on all charges.
According to the prosecution, Dan-Bello grazed cattle on farmland belonging to the National Palm Agricultural Products Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), located in AGO PANU-UTE ROAD in the OWO Local Government Area.
Cattle reportedly destroyed young palm trees and watermelons grown on two hectares of land.
Prosecutor Po Nwafor told the court that grazing is without a permit and that ondo state livestock feeding and grazing laws are clearly violated on land not specified for use by the state government, 2021.
She further said the incident escalated when a herder who had initially escaped returned with six other people, allegedly shooting at the farm, destroying a motorcycle in the process.
A farm guard who testified was one of the witnesses in prosecution, telling how he arrested Dan Bello when a second herder fled.
Judge Damilola Sekoni made a judgment that the evidence for the prosecution was credible and sufficient.
He was further sentenced to two years in prison without a fifth fine.
Therefore, the court sentenced Dan-Bello to four years in prison for the first time without the option of a fine. The second fine of two years, the fine of N50,000; and the third and fourth year.
The magistrate ordered the sentences to be performed simultaneously.
However, the court ruled that if the offender pays 2 million guilds to the complainant, he will be released.
The court stressed the importance of complying with the open ants law, which aims to prevent conflict between farmers and herders in the state.
The court stressed the importance of complying with anti-open grazing laws, which aims to prevent conflict between farmers and herdsmen in the state
Therefore, the court sentenced Dan-Bello to four years in prison for the first time without the option of a fine. The second fine of two years, fine of N50,000; the third and fourth counts per year
