Landlord Sets Church Ablaze Over Three Months Rent

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Pastor Sunday Adeniyi of the Grace of  Defence Life Church, Okota, Lagos has been forced to temporarily close his church after his landlord, Emeka Njoku allegedly invaded the church, brought out everything in there and set them ablaze.
The incident happened at Abdul Ibrahim street, Ago Palace Way in Okota, Lagos where Adeniyi rented the premises as a church and resided in two-bedroom apartment and a shop for his wife.
Pastor Adeniyi said the landlord broke into the church and burnt all the church properties and his family belongings including his wife’s shop located within the premises when he was not around..
In his defence, Njoku said Adeniyi rented the place where the church was built and a two-bedroom apartment and refused to pay rent for three months as they agreed.
He said when the rent expired, Adeniyi locked the place and fled and he was unable to locate him at the period the incident happened.
In response, Adeniyi admitted that he was owing three months rent and explained he was only owing the landlord the total amount of N63,000 for the three months before he went away for prayer with his wife on a mountain.
He said when they came back, the whole place had turned to rubble, while the landlord went ahead to demarcate the church hall for tenants to occupy because he did not remove the roof.
He said all the properties inside the church including the ones in their apartment and wife’s shop were destroyed by the landlord.
But Njoku maintained that what he burnt were dirts left inside the church when Adeniyi parked his property and ran away over rent arrears.
Following the alleged burning of the church and his property, Adeniyi dragged Njoku to Isolo Magistrate’s court seeking among other things; that Njoku should replace all his burnt properties and pay him compensation over the damage.
Among the things he alleged Njoku burnt are plastic chairs, offering and tithe boxes, pulpit, computer systems, musical instrument, gold and boxes containing clothes of different types and others.
Adeniyi said when he saw what happened he went to the police and reported the matter and he was detained for false information as the police said he cannot claim he had Gold while he was owing rent to the landlord.
The matter is now before the presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Shonubi to determine the fact and do justice over the matter.
It was further adjourned till 21 January 2017 for hearing.