39-year-old man docked for illegal demolition of property in Edo

A 39-year-old man, Mr Joseph Odubu, the younger brother of former Edo state deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu was on Tuesday docked before an Oredo Chief Magistrate in Benin, for allegedly demolishing an uncompleted building.

The defendant is being tried for conspiracy and malicious damage of property.

The Police Prosecution, Mr Osayomwanbor Omoruyi told the court that the accused committed the offences on Sept. 7, 2019, at Aruogba community in Oredo Magisterial District, Benin.

Omoruyi further alleged that the accused person had on the said date, conspired with others in a group at large, did maliciously damage the uncompleted buildings of Mrs Yahaya Garba-Hassan and Mr Umar Hassan.

He said the accused person brought a bulldozer to pull down the uncompleted building on the ground that the land belongs to his elder brother in the United States.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 516,  and  451, of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. 11, Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976, now applicable in Edo.

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Section 451, which deals with malicious damage of property, prescribes two years and seven years jail term for conspiracy

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendant Counsel, Mr Frank Edebor urged the court for its discretion to grant the accused bail, adding that he is a family with children.

He assured the court that the accused would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Patricia Igho-Braimoh who adjourned the case to February 19, for hearing admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety in like sum each and must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.