Two Blood Brothers At War Over Ownership Of Property
KINGSLEY EBERE
The fight between two brothers, Richard Nwofia and his younger brother, John Nwofia, took another dimension following the arrest and remand of Richard in prison custody over ownership of a property in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Richard was arrested by the Police operatives from Area M Command, Idimu, for allegedly using machete to chase John to inflict injury on him as well as threatening to kill him and members of his family over the property, which John is dragging with him.
The property in question is located at Oba Gbadamosi Street, Governor’s Road, Ikotun area of Lagos, where they reside.
It was gathered that Richard bought the land some years ago and developed it to the decking level and had no money to continue the work. He then brought his younger brother, John, to live with him in the house.
However, John reportedly told him that he needed a property as collateral to borrow money from the Bank for his thriving business and Richard agreed that he should complete the house and use it as collateral to get the loan.
The house was then completed by John, which he used to borrow money from the bank. But before then, he had changed the house documents to his own name without informing Richard.
However, trouble started after Richard discovered that John went behind to change the documents of the house to bear his own name without his knowledge.
This caused serious problem between them and Richard asked him to leave the house but he refused and insisted that it was Richard that will leave the house because the house belongs to him.
When the matter went to the Police for investigation, John presented the documents, which bear his name to show that the house actually belongs to him. Unknown to him, Richard had the original purchasing receipt of the land, which bears his own name and the matter became a subject of litigation before the Lagos State High Court over ownership after Richard served John quit notice as the landlord.
The situation worsened on 22nd November, 2024, when John went to Area M and reported the case of threat to life and assault against Richard. The Police arrested, detained him for some days and charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
SOUNT 1: “That you, Richard Nwofia ‘M’ on the 22nd November 2024 at about 1600hrs being Sunday at Oba Gbadamosi Street, off Governor’s Road, Ikotun, in the Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully threaten with a machete and other weapons to chase one John Nwofia ‘M’ and with intent to inflict injury on him and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, of Nigeria 2015.*
COUNT II: “That you Richard Nwofia ‘M’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, by raining abusive words and calling Mr. John Nwofia and his family using provocating words in a public place that will led to breakdown of law and order and thereby committed an offence contrary to the law and punishable under Section 168 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Richard Nwofia ‘M’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully, willfully damage Water Pipe, Electricity Wire and other items by preventing Mr. John Nwofia from having access to it and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 350 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue 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 that brought him before the Court.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 14th January, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
