MICHAEL AKINOLA
A tenant, Nelson Ikenna Okoli, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly beating up his landlord, Clement Ene and caretaker, Benjamin Nwachukwu, for disturbing him over house rent.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Uncle Joe Street, Ijegun area of Lagos, where Okoli rented an apartment.
The Police alleged that the landlord, Ene and his caretaker, Nwachukwu, went to the tenant’s apartment to demand for arrears of rent, which he was owing. He became angry and threatened them with violence.
He reportedly attacked the landlord by pushing and chasing him with a plank and the landlord took to his heels while he used a screw driver to inflict injury on the caretaker’s head before the caretaker managed to escape.
The matter was reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division. The tenant, Okoli, was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged violent conduct.
While being interrogated, he reportedly admitted to have attacked them for coming to disturb him over rent arrears whereas he had told them that he was having financial challenges and could hardly eat because of the harsh economic situation.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
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 N50,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The matter was adjourned till 22nd September, 2023, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.