Ezekiel Babalola, a 30-year-old man, was indicted in Ekiti state's Supreme Magistrate's Court Ado Ekiti on Tuesday for stealing 17 barrels of palm oil.

Police prosecutor Orbu Apata told the court that Babalola, who is now on the run, and his two others stole a barrel of palm oil belonging to a certain Ms. Taiwo Adeuya.

"The defendant and his two others conspired to steal 17 barrels of red palm oil worth £558,500 from Mr. Taiwo Adeuya," he said.

Apata said the defendant alleged he committed the crime in Ire Ekiti, Oye County, in the state around 6 a.m. on January 24. 2021”.

However, the defendant's attorney, his Gboyega Abiola, asked the court to grant his client bail, promising that the defendant would meet the bail conditions. Magistrate Kehinde Awosika granted the defendant N100,000 bail with two guarantors of the same amount and postponed the matter for a final hearing until April 16.