Man Arrested For Secretly Selling House, Rendering Family Homeless

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The police in Lagos have arrested a 39-Year old man, Henry Effiong, for secretly selling a property jointly owned with his wife, Sandra, and thereby rendering the family homeless.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at 4 Ganiyu Ogunlana Street, Awoyaya area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, where they reside.

The suspect, Henry and his wife, Sandra, were said to have jointly bought a parcel of the land with money they contributed, developed it and stayed there with their children.
However, on March, 2019, Effiong brought a man to the house as the new landlord, informed his wife that he has sold the house and that she should move their belongings out of the house for the new landlord to take possession.
The visibly shocked wife then told him bluntly that he cannot sell the house alone without her consent because they both owned the property. The husband became angry and started beating her in order to suppress her. But she was said to have resisted, contacted the police and both of them were taken to the police station.
During interrogation, the wife reportedly provided evidence that she substantially contributed huge amount of money for the purchase of the property, as such they jointly owned it and he cannot sell it without informing her or making alternative arrangement where they will relocate to with their children.
On the other hand, the husband said that as the head of the family he is supposed to decide what happens in the family. He said he has sold the house and that the wife should leave for the new landlord to take possession.
The police having discovered that the property in question was acquired jointly by the husband and wife but was sold without the wife’s consent and no arrangement for alternative apartment, found his actions culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conduct likely to cause breach of the public peace.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Peter Nwaogwugwu, asked the Court for adjournment to enable the police to prove that he actually committed the offence as charged.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Y.O. Aje-Afunwa, granted the defendant,Effiong, bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.
However, he was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.