Landlord Remanded In Prison Over Attempt To Reclaim Already Sold N60m Duplex

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Annex, Lagos, have arrested a 43 years old Landlord at Ajah, Lagos, Afeez Abimbola Bello and dragged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for attempting to forcefully reclaim the duplex he allegedly sold to the  complainant, Adewale Hamzat Sanni for the sum of N60 million.

Police alleged that trouble started for the defendant when he went to the duplex located at 12, Abimbola Crescent, Oke Ira Nla, Mashil Estate, Badore, Ajah, Lagos  to unlawfully damage the entrance door to the building.

Police alleged that when the complainant challenged him why he allegedly entered into his property without his consent to damage  the entrance door, the defendant allegedly told the complainant that he could not take full possession of the property because he had earlier allegedly sold the property to another buyer, Afeez Olowo before allegedly selling it to him.

Police further alleged that when the complainant insisted that the property belong to him because he bought the property in good fate with documents in his possession and his properties already inside the duplex, the defendant allegedly threatened to kill the complainant with unlawful society gangs if he insisted in taking full possession of the property.

Police said that following the development, the complainant petitioned the Inspector General of Police who directed his monitoring crack team in Lagos to investigate the matter leading to the arrest of the defendant.

After investigation by Inspector Fajimi Waheed and his team, the defendant was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a six count bordering on fraud, willful damage, threat to life, forcible entry and conducts likely to cause breach of peace.

Police prosecuting Counsel, Ishola Samuel informed the Court in the charge marked TA/18/2025 that the defendant committed the offence on 7 May and 8 September, 2024 at Abimbola Crescent, Oke-Ira Nla, Badore,Ajah, Lagos.

Samuel told the Court that the defendant was arrested for attempting to forcefully reclaim the property he had already sold to the complainant for N60m with the  claims that he had earlier sold the property to one Afeez Olowo before selling it to the complainant.

He said the offences the defendant committed were punishable under Sections 406 ,326 ,215, 52 and 168 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count 3  of the charges reads that “You Afeez Abimbola Bello and others still at large in the aforesaid magisterial district did made an attempt with intent to defraud and convert one Adewale Hamzat Sanni property situated at 12, Abimbola Crescent, Oke Ira Nla, Mashil Estate, Badore,Ajah,Lagos to become yours or an imposter  called Afeez Olowo.

Count 4 reads that “You Afeez  Abimbola Bello and others still at large in the aforesaid magisterial district did threatened to kill one Adewale Hamzat Sanni with the use of unlawful society gangs for challenging you for the Authority behind your actions to break into his property at 12, Abimbola Crescent, Oke Ira Nla, Mashil Estate ,Badore ,Ajah,Lagos without his consent.”

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Chief Magistrate, M. Owunmi granted him N100 million bail with three surties in like sum.

Owunmi directed that the surties must deposit half of the bail sum in the Court Deputy registrar’s account, adjourned the case till 6 February, 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.