A 38-year-old man, Hassan Lukman, accused of stealing gold was on Thursday arraigned before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ile-Ile.

The defendant was charged for conspiracy, force entry, stealing, malicious damage and breach of public peace.

He was said to have committed the offences at Mosarajo village via Ile-Ife.

Police Prosecutor in charge of the case, Emmanuel Abdullahi, said the defendant conspired with others and forcefully entered into a cocoa plantation belonging to one Olajide Idowu, where he stole raw gold.

Abdullahi said the defendant “unlawfully destroyed the cocoa plantation; he also conducted self in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the five counts pressed against him.

Lukman’s lawyet, Mariam Lai-Ibrahim, applied for his bail.

The presiding magistrate, A. Ayeni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till September 21.