Police on Friday arraigned three men in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing seven goats worth N700,000.

The defendants are Olarewaju Segun, 27; Abubakar Yinusa, 28; and Farouk Aliu, 28.

They face two counts of stealing and receiving stolen property, to which they each pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on October 11 at about 11:00 a.m. at Abuja Quarters, along NTA Road, Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that Segun stole the seven goats belonging to Adebomojo Ifeoluwa, while Yinusa and Aliu received the animals from him, knowing they were stolen.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 302(1) and 343(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

He asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

Defence counsel Paul Ayantoyinbo urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, assuring it that they would not jump bail.

The chief magistrate, Dolamu Babalogbon, granted each defendant bail of N100,000, with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case until November 19 for hearing.