Tenant Dislodges Landlord, Collects Rent As Owner

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 57-year old tenant, Mr. John Ogbaki in Lagos has dislodged his landlord, taken over the ownership of the house and had collected rent for two years.

The incident happened at Pasty Lane at New Oko Oba Estate in Lagos where the storey building was located.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that out of fear, the owner of the house had hurriedly relocated abroad, prepared a letter (the power of attorney) and handed the house to a female agent identified as Gloria.

Some residents were still surprised how Ogbaki managed to dislodge the owner and forced other tenants to pay rent directly to him as the new landlord for some years before the agent – Gloria intervened.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Ogbaki’s illegal possession was halted when Gloria informed him that she had been given the power of attorney to manage the property. He however insisted that the house belonged to him and asked the agent to produce the landlord.

The matter was reported to the police at Area M Command, Idimu following a petition to the Area Commander, ACP Austines Akika.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that during interrogations, he was asked to produce the documents that showed that he was the owner of the house but he was unable to produce any. The police then discovered that he was not the real owner of the house but imposed himself as the landlord and had been collecting rent from the tenants for those years.

He was charged before Ejigbo Magistrate court for criminal conversion of another’s property.

He pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.K.J. Layeni granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The prosecutor, Mr. G. Simon did not object his bail condition.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 28 March, 2018.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that since the fight between Ogbaki and Gloria – the agent started, the owner of the house remained silent and had continued to maintain a safe distance out of fear in order to know the eventual outcome of the matter before coming back.