MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 53-year-old Court bailiff, Taiwo Fredrick, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly conspiring with a landlord and others now at large to forcefully eject a tenant from his apartment in order to avoid litigation in Court.
P.M.EXPRESS reports the incident happened at Muwo Tedi area of Ojo, Lagos, where the tenant, Christopher Okonkwo, rented an apartment.
The suspect, Frederick, has been arrested and charged over the alleged forceful ejection.
He was charged before the Ojo Magistrates Court on two-count charges before the Presiding Magistrate, L.J.K Layeni, for conspiracy and forceful ejection under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Dr. Simon Uche, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence on 17th February, 2023, by conspiring with others now at large to eject the complainant, Okonkwo, from his apartment without due process of the law.
The prosecutor, Dr Uche, told the Court that the defendant conducted himself in an unlawful manner without following the due process provided by law by illegally ejecting the complaint.
The matter was reported to the Police and the defendant was trailed and arrested and detained for interrogation over their conduct.
During interrogation, the Police discovered that the defendant did not have a valid Court order to eject the tenant but went with forged Court documents to eject the complainant, which is an offence that contravened the provisions of Sections 57 and 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The Presiding Magistrate, Layeni, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and verified addresses.
The matter was adjourned till 10th May, 2023, for trial while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.