MICHAEL AKINOLA
A landlord, Chief Collins Iloanya, had a nasty experience in Lagos State after he successful completed his 10 flats buildings and engaged the services of an estate agent, Emmanuel Chidi Anozie and he got the shock of his life.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the 59-year old estate agent, Anozie, reportedly rented out the flats for N10m to different tenants and bolted away with the money without remitting any to the landlord.
The incident happened at Shonubi Street, Okota area of Lagos, where the building is located.
When the landlord, Chief Iloanya, waited for him to remit the money from the rent to no avail and he tried to contact him through other means only to realise that the agent, Anozie, was on the run.
The landlord then went to the house and informed the tenants that they had rented the apartment from wrong person because he did not authorize Anozie to rent out the flats and the tenants cannot live in the apartments.
It was in midst of the confusion that a petition was written against Anozie to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, who then directed Police detective at the SCID, Yaba, to move into action; Anozie was eventually arrested and detained for interrogation over his conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted before the Police that he actually rented out the apartments to the tenants with the consent of the landlord but that he has spent all the money accrued from the flats to solve his personal problems.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrates Court for stealing.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, 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, Mrs. F.M. Kayode Alamu, granted him bail with conditions and he was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre in Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.