The Police at Isheri Oshun Division, Lagos State, have rescued a landlady, Chilufya Oderoha, from her tenant, Favour Jevantus, who allegedly dislodged, took over as landlord of the house and was collecting rent from tenants for the past five years.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Tantolorun Street, Isheri Oshun area of Lagos, where the house is located.
Trouble started after the landlady came back from abroad, only to discover that Jevantus has changed the structure of the house and collected arrears of rent spanning the period she travelled while claiming that he was the owner of the house and the new tenants believed him.
Before the landlady’s eventual return, Jevantus had earlier warned her not to come back to the house because he would not guarantee her safety and instilled fear in her.
However, when she returned back to Nigeria, she went to the Police and reported the matter. The DPO mobilized officers, who went to the house, arrested Jevantus and detained him at the station for interrogation.
During interrogation, he confessed that he was not the owner of the house and had been collecting arrears of rent from tenants. He claimed to have used part of the money to renovate the house without informing the landlady.
After thorough interrogation, he was found culpable for the alleged offence and subsequently charged before the Isolo Magistrates Court for threat to life and criminal conversion of the property.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Patrick Ebri, then asked the Court to give a short adjournment for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned till 5th December, 2022, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.