Tenant, 37, Docked For Chasing Landlord With Cutlass Over Rent Payment

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the 37-year old tenant, Iloka Chidera Johnpaul, assaulted and chased him with a cutlass. In the process, his Samsung phone valued at N850,000 was damaged as he fled to save his life.

The incident happened on 13th of March, 2025, at Mushin Avenue, Unity Estate, Lagos.

The tenant has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for the alleged  conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, assault, malicious damage and threat to life by chasing his landlord, Mr. Adeleke Johnson, with a cutlass for demanding payment of rent.

According to the Police, the tenant was said not to have paid arrears of rent and the landlord went to demand for the payment, which got the tenant angry.

He reportedly claimed that the landlord knew his condition but was harassing him, which angered him and he attacked him before the landlord managed to escape.

The matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu headquarters. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the tenant at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

The Police found him culpable after interrogation and charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, ILOKA CHIDERA JOHNPAUL “M” on the 13th of March 2025 at No 12, Mushin Avenue, Unity Estate, Lagos at noon in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully threaten the life of your landlord, Mr. Adeleke Johnson, with a cutlass for demanding rent payment from you and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, ILOKA CHIDERA JOHNPAUL “M” on the same day time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did assault one Mr. Adeleke Johnson as a result, you maliciously damaged his Samsung phone valued (N850,000) Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only, property of one Mr. Adeleke Johnson and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 350 Of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT III:”That you, ILOKA CHIDERA JOHNPAUL “M” on the same date, time and place, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in the manner likely to cause the breach of peace by reigning abusive words, provocative words and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 178 Of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, 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, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, 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 while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 15th October, 2025, 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.