Tenant Remanded Over Alleged Issuance of N9.2m Dud Cheques For House Rent

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A tenant, Mr. Oluwaseun Bamisile, 57, has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos and  charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly issuing two dud Cheques bearing Access  and Stanbic IBTC Banks valued at  N9,150,000 to his landlord, AEQUITAS Partners as part payment of the about five years rent arrears he is allegedly owing the complainant.

Police said that when the complainant presented the cheques at the bank for payment, it was dishonored due to lack of funds in the defendant’s account.

Police alleged that following the development, the complainant petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Adegoke Fayoade who swiftly directed his men to arrest him.

After investigation by ASP Martins Dagan and his team, the defendant was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on a two count charge bordering on Issuance of dud Cheques.

Police Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Solomon told the Court in the charge marked P_27/2025 that the defendant committed the offence on 9 November, 2020 and 6 November, 2024 at his residence located at Eleganza Gardens opposite Victoria Gardens City, Lagos.

Solomon informed the court that the defendant owed the complainant about five years rent of arrears and that when the complainant requested for the payment of the rent arrears, the  defendant allegedly deliberately issued Access Bank cheque valued at N1,250,000 and Stanbic IBTC Bank cheque all valued at N9,250,000 to the complainant as part payment knowing full well that he had no money in his account. But when the complainant presented the cheques at the  bank, it was rejected on the ground that there was no money in the defendant’s account leading to his arrest.

Solomon said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 321 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate  Mrs Wahab granted him N1,000,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Wahab adjourned the case till 27 August 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions.