Patrick Olusegun, a 36-year-old farm manager, was detained in Abuja on suspicion of stealing hens valued N5.4 million.
On Tuesday, September 12, Olusegun, who resides in Lugbe, Abuja, was charged with stealing but entered a not-guilty plea in front of a Kado Grade 1 Area Court.
Mr. Ajayi Elijah of Wale John Farms in Lugbe, Abuja, reported the incident to the Lugbe Police Station on September 8, according to the prosecution’s Mr. Stanley Nwafoaku.
According to Nwafoaku, the complainant hired the defendant in July to run his over 1000-bird chicken farm.
He said that when the complainant took stock of the birds, 542 birds worth N5.4 million went missing.
The prosecutor claimed that the defendant was consequently apprehended and that during police investigation, the defendant could not explain how the chickens went missing, an offence that contravened Section 289 of the Penal Code.
The Area Court Judge, Mr Mohammed Wakili, granted the defendant bail in the sum of one million Naira with one surety in like sum.
Wakili ordered that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. The judge then adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for a hearing.