A community leader and two others on Friday appeared before an Owode Egba Chief Magistrates' Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing a bunch of plantain valued at N2,000.
Police prosecutor Evidence Oyenkaobi told the court that the accused, Jimoh Adebayo, 50; Wahab Ayenreti, 70; and Suraju Ayenreti, 35, committed the alleged offence on Dec. 31, 2012.
Oyenkaobi said the accused at about 9 p.m. at Imedu-Nla Village, Mowe in Owode Egba, jumped into the compound of Jubilee Baptist Church and stole the bunch of plantain.
“The community leader (Adebayo) and his accomplice jumped into the compound of the church, cut the bunch of plantain and were carting it away when they were caught.
“They were sighted by the pastor of the church, who was threatened and chased away with a cutlass by the third accused to prevent him from raising alarm,” he said.
He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 390 (9) and 86 (2) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and threat to life, were represented by their counsel, Mr Ade Agbolade.
Agbolade applied for bail for his clients, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Emanuel Adekunte granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case to March 21, for further hearing in the matter. (NAN)