An Ondo State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Igbokoda has sentenced the Baale of Ebute Ipare Community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, Francis Ogundeji, to three years’ imprisonment for disobedience to a court order.

The judgement was delivered on Monday by Senior Magistrate E.A Manuwa, but a copy of the ruling was made available to newsmen on Thursday.

According to the judgement, Ogundeji and one Ikuejamoye Thomas were charged with selling land in the community in November 2022, against a court order.

It was gathered that the state High Court sitting in Okitipupa and a magistrates’ court in Igbokoda had restrained people from selling the land.

However, the traditional ruler, in collaboration with Thomas, defied the court order and sold the land.

The convicts were also charged with falsehood, as they backdated the receipt of the land sale. They faced four counts, including contempt of court and falsehood.

During the proceedings, the charges were read to the defendants in English and interpreted into Yoruba to the satisfaction of the court.

The magistrate found Ogundeji and Thomas guilty of the offence in count three and sentenced them to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N150,000 each.

However, the court discharged and acquitted Thomas on counts one, two, and four.

The magistrate ruled: “The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is hereby sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on count one or to pay the sum of N30,000 to the state government as a fine.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to three months’ imprisonment or to pay the sum of N30,000. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count two.

“In count three, both the first and second defendants are sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N150,000 each to the state government.

“The first defendant, Ogundeji Francis, is also sentenced to one month’s imprisonment or to pay the sum of N30,000 to the state government. The second defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the offence in count four.”

However, the court ruled that the terms of imprisonment for the first defendant would run consecutively.