Sikiru Abideen, 52, and Kolawole Akintade, 54, were charged by the police on Monday in an Iyaganku Magistrates' Court in Ibadan with allegedly poisoning 3,700 fish.
The police accuse Abideen and Akintade, whose residential addresses were not disclosed, of behaviour that is likely to lead to a disturbance and animal cruelty.
According to ASP Sikiru Ibrahim, who represents the prosecution, the defendants committed the crime on November 4 at around 7:15 a.m. in the Oluyole neighbourhood of Ibadan.
Ibrahim claimed that by employing substances believed to be poison to kill the fish in a pond, the defendants behaved in a way that was likely to lead to a breach of peace.
He claimed that the accused used the chemical to treat the fish pond.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 249(d) and 495(d) of the Criminal laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, T. B. Oyekanmi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200, 000 each and two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case until Dec. 8 for a hearing.