Two men were arraigned before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates' Court in Ondo State on Friday for allegedly setting fire to a palm fruit plantation and maliciously damaging cassava stems worth N2.4 million.

The defendants, Sunday Omopelumi, 45, a farmer, and Iseoluwa Adegbehindo, 30, an aluminium fabricator, are facing charges of felony, arson, and malicious damage.

According to Police Prosecutor ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, the defendants allegedly committed the offence on April 13, around 3 pm at Ladan farm in Ode-Aye, within the Okitipupa magisterial district.

The prosecution told the court that following an argument, the defendants trespassed onto farmland belonging to one Pius Apalara and set fire to his palm fruits plantation valued at N1.4 million. They also allegedly damaged young cassava stems worth N800,000.

The offences are punishable under Sections 516, 445(a), and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Olanrewaju Àdelegan.

The Chief Magistrate granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each with one surety each in like sum. The court ordered that the sureties must reside within the court's jurisdiction and present evidence of two years tax payment to the Ondo State government.

The case has been adjourned until June 3 for further hearing.