Landlord Sent To Prison For Forcefully Ejecting Tenant From Apartment

Posted on April 28, 2023

MICHAEL AKINOLA

It was a nasty experience for a tenant, Felix Uche, in Lagos State as he returned from work only to find all his household properties thrown outside and the door of his apartment was locked by his landlord, Dawodu.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Uche’s landlord, Mr. Dawodu, claimed that he no longer wanted him as his tenant, forcefully ejected Uche and took possession of his apartment without Court papers.

The incident happened on 19th April, 2023, at about 7am, at Eweh Close, Pako-Ketu, Ijanikin area of Lagos, where Uche rented the apartment.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ijaniki Division and Dawodu was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct. And while still at the Police Station, he admitted to have done so because the house belonged to him.

Thus, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Badagry Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

The Prosecuror, Supol Clement Okuoimose, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence by unlawfully and forcefully entering Felix Uche’s apartment and throwing out all his household properties, which contravened the provisions of Section 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The landlord, Dawodu, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.

The prosecutor then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. Fadahunsi Adefioye, granted the defendant to bail in the sum of ₦‎100,000 and two reliable sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and addresses verified.

The Court ordered that one of the sureties must be a landlord within the community and adjourned the matter till 17th May, 2023, for further mention while the landlord was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Badagry, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.