Fake Landlord Remanded In Prison For Allegedly Defrauding Anglican Church of N2m

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A suspected fake landlord, Iyewunmi Idonije, 68, has  been arrested by the operatives of the Nigeria Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2,50,000 from members of the St. Andrew Anglican  Church, Mushin, Lagos by false pretence.

Police alleged that the defendant allegedly introduced  himself to the church members as the  landlord  of a three  bedroom flat located at 8, Adekitan Street, Mushin and said that he has a three-bedroom flat to rent out to the Vicar  of the church at the sum of N2 million and the church members believed and gave him the money through their representative, Mr.  Obialor Bartholomew as part-payment to renovate the apartment and delivered it as agreed.

The defendant, according to the Police absconded with the money. When the complainant waited for days without seeing or hearing from the suspect, he decided to visit the house to know what was delaying the hand over of  the apartment  to the tenant.

But Bartholomew was shock to discover that the building he paid for had been demolished and residents in the area allegedly told him that the defendant he paid money to was not the landlord of the building.

Following the development, the church members petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police  in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Adegoke Fayoade who swiftly directed his men to fish out the fleeing suspect.

The Police swung into action and arrested the defendant at a hideout in Lagos.

The defendant was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

Police Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Solomon told the Court in the charge marked P/32/2025 that the defendant committed the offence in April, 2025 at 8, Adekitan Street, Mushin, Lagos.

Solomon informed the court that the defendant lied to the complainant that he was the landlord of a three-bedroom flat in the area, knowing full well that he was never a landlord and collected the money from the complainant to rent a flat to the church and fled before he was tracked and arrested at a hideout in Lagos.

He said the offences the defendant committed were punishable Under Sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 20215.

The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Magistrate granted him N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.