Makurdi Magistrates’ Court docked two friends arrested by the Benue State Police Command on Thursday for allegedly stealing 700 tubers of yam in cash of N70,000.
The suspects identified as Boniface Yahemba and Emberga Tyokyaa were charged by Police with four counts of criminal conspiracy.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Godwin Ato told the court that Adue Terseer who resides in Gwer East LGA, Benue reported the matter to the police.
Ato further told the court that the complainant reported that the suspects Tyokyaa Yahemba and two others, Aondowase Debam, Gbaakough Ityokaa, at large, conspired and trespassed into his farm.
He alleged that the defendants also destroyed his farmland where he planted water yam worth over N70,000.
He said that investigation into the matter was still on-going and prayed the court for an adjournment. The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 97, 349, 329 and 288 of the Penal Code Law of Benue 2004. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs Ajuma Igama, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each in like sum, who must be a civil servant on GL07 in the Benue Civil Service. Igama adjourned the case until August 20 for further mention.