Landlord Arrested For Battering Tenant Over Relations Visit Without Approval

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A tenant, Bakare Joseph, is lying critically ill at the moment at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State after he was brutally attacked and injured by his landlord, Wasiu Fatai, for allowing his relatives to visit him against the landlord’s wish. 

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 8th September, 2024, at Oladeraji Street, Ijegun Road, Ikotun area of Lagos, where the tenant, Joseph, rented an apartment.

 

The 48-year old landlord, Fatai, has been arrested and charged before the Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and assault under the Criminal Laws of the State.

 

According to the Police, the victim rented the apartment and the landlord warned him that none of his relatives should visit in as much as he was living in his house as a condition for accepting him as a tenant.

 

However, on the day the incident happened, relations of the victim visited and the landlord denied them access into the victim’s apartment. And when the victim wanted to know why he would deny his relatives access to his own apartment, he received the shock of his life.

 

The landlord was alleged to have arranged with others now at large and  battered him with fist blows and inflicted injury on his left eye before he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

 

The alleged assault was reported to the Police at Ikotun Division. The suspect was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

 

After interrogation, the suspect was found culpable and charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, 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.

 

The Presiding Magistrate, K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.