By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Taskforce Team of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) on Thursday apprehended a number of cows grazing along the fence of the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The cows which were nine in number, grazing openly by the motorcycle park otherwise known as ‘Okada’ park beside the Secretariat gate, were closely monitored and captured thereafter.
The OYRLEA taskforce noting the violation as environmentally and agriculturally related immediately called the attention of the State Ministry of Agriculture and an official report was made to the State’s Parliament Police Division, Secretariat Agodi in the Secretariat.
Additional personnel were deployed and the cows were taken to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking on the offence as tantamount to the extant laws on anti-open grazing of 2019, as established by the State, the Chairperson, Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi ordered for the prosecution of the offender without further delay.
Sitting at the Tribunal on the charge number OYRLEA/19/12/2024 which is held at the Ministry of Environment the same day, N.Y. Aderibigbe, the prosecuting counsel levied a four count charge on the offender, drawn from the anti-open grazing law of Oyo State, 2019.
The offender, Nurudeen Semiu on arraignment acceded to the first two of the charges and pleaded not guilty on others.
At the end of the trial, the presiding officer, Barrister Kunle Abimbola pronounced judgement as it relates to open rearing count charges and the option of N1,700,000 fine or five years imprisonment was admitted on the offender.
