The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned a 64-year-old church leader, Apostle Adefiju Boluwaji, before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court over alleged malicious damage and breach of peace in Bolorunduro, headquarters of the Ondo East Local Council Area of the state.

Boluwaji, who had been on the wanted list of Zone 17 of the Nigeria Police Force, was arrested on Sunday and taken to Bolorunduro Divisional Headquarters, from where he was brought to Zone 17, the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Akure, the state capital.

The prophet was accused by the police prosecutor, Adebayo Sulaiman, of alleged malicious damage, forcible entry, and breach of peace in the agrarian community.

The co-accused of the defendant, 80-year-old Prince Adebisi Adefusi, has been standing trial before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Bolorunduro for alleged forcible entry and malicious damage to the property of Revd David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi.

The charge reads, “That you, Adefiju Boluwaji, and others at large, on or about the 25th day of November 2024, did conspire to commit a felony, to wit, trespass into the possession of land situate at Omilosu via Bolorunduro within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and did conspire to commit a felony, to wit, forcible entry and malicious damage to properties, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Adefiju Boluwaji, and others at large on or about the 25th day of November 2024, at Omilosu via Bolorunduro, Ondo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did wilfully and unlawfully destroy plantain, cocoa, coconut, and palm trees valued at two hundred and forty-seven million naira (247,000,000.00) belonging to Reverend David Akinadewo Adekahunsi and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Adefiju Boluwaji, and others at large on or about the 25th day of November, 2024, at Omilosu via Bolorunduro, Ondo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did, in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, enter on land which is in the actual and peaceable possession of Reverend David Akinadewo Adekahunsi and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 81 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

While pleading not guilty to all the charges preferred against him, his counsel, Oguntuwase, applied for the defendant’s bail in liberal terms, so that he would appear in court to answer the charges against him, stressing that the offences against his client are bailable.

However, the prosecutor said he would not oppose the bail application but insisted that the bail must be on stringent conditions, as the defendant had been evading arrest until he was apprehended on Sunday.

In his ruling, the Magistrate Court presided over by Damilola Sekoni granted bail in the sum of ₦1 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case has been transferred to the Magistrate’s Court in Bolorunduro for adjudication, and the hearing has also been adjourned to September 15.