A cattle rearer, Mr. Nurudeen Semiu, has been sentenced to five years in prison for violating the Oyo State Anti-Open Grazing Law.
Semiu was arrested on Thursday by police officers at the Oyo State Government Secretariat after his nine cows were found grazing near the Secretariat gate.
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The cows were grazing near the motorcycle park, also known as ‘Okada’ Park, when they were noticed by the taskforce team from the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA). The team closely monitored the grazing activity and promptly reported the violation to the Ministry of Agriculture. A complaint was filed with the police division at the Secretariat gate, leading to Semiu’s arrest and the relocation of the cows to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Hon. Justice Aderonke Aderemi, Chairperson of OYRLEA, directed that the offender be prosecuted immediately in accordance with the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law of 2019. During the tribunal proceedings at the Ministry of Environment, the prosecuting counsel, N.Y. Aderibigbe, presented a four-count charge against Semiu. Semiu pleaded guilty to the first two charges and not guilty to the others.
At the conclusion of the trial, the presiding officer, Barrister Kunle Abimbola, sentenced Semiu to five years in prison for the offense. However, the court granted him the option to pay a fine of N1,700,000 in place of serving the prison term.
