By Sade Adewale
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A 26-year-old labourer, Itoro Syvanus, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for  using axe to pursue one Olamojiba Igbekoyi with intent to commit felony.

Sylvanus was said to have bought coke and groundnut from the complainant,  Igbekoyi, but refused to pay him,  at about 3:00pm  on December 10, 2018 at Owonomowo village in Ondo town.

Rather than pay for what he bought,  Sylvanus reportedly gave Igbekoyi, a fist blow and destroyed some of the goods in his shop.

The defendant  was arraigned before the court on Monday for manner likely to cause breach of peace with intent to commit misdemeanor, willful damage and assault.

Sylvanus was further  alleged to have willfully damaged five cartons of ‘more beer’ valued at N10,000 and five crates of Coca-Cola valued at N12,000:00, total value  at N24,000:00, property of one Olamojiba Igbekoyi.

The defendant is now facing a four- count charge bothering on threatening and giving a fist blow at Owomomowo village Ondo,  contrary to and punishable under Sections 86, 249 (d), 451and 351of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Mr Benard Olagbayi, who told the court that he would be calling two witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Lawyer for the accused, Messrs  O S Olifex and O A Akinbinu, applied for the bail of the defendant in most liberal terms so as to settle the case out of court.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Bolatito Ajibade granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

She said the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction, while he must show evidence of payment of tax for the current year and copy of valid means of identification.

She adjourned the case till December 19, 2018 for mention.