A 28-year-old poultry operator, Bello Abdulrahman, has been arrested and arraigned by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly stealing 1,862 live broiler chickens valued at over ₦9.7 million from a farm in Osogbo.

 

The accused was docked before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo for offences bordering on fraud, stealing, and conversion of property.

 

According to the police prosecutor, A. Shola, the defendant allegedly obtained the chickens from Six Tag Farm, located at Egbedi Junction, Iwo Road, in April 2025, with the promise of paying within 10 working days, a promise he allegedly never fulfilled.

 

The charge sheet stated that:

• Abdulrahman fraudulently obtained goods worth ₦9,770,504.00 under false pretence, contrary to Section 419(A) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol II, Osun State, 2003.

• He allegedly stole the chickens, an act contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9).

• He also allegedly converted the said sum to his personal use, still under the same criminal sections.

 

Despite the weight of the allegations, Abdulrahman pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

 

Presiding Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted him bail in the sum of ₦5 million, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a house owner with verifiable address.

The case has been adjourned till August 12, 2025, for mention.

Meanwhile, the police have assured that justice will be pursued diligently as part of broader efforts to curb financial fraud and theft in the state.