A landlord, Emmanuel Reuben, has been chased away from his house by unknown tenants, who forcefully took possession of the house, shared the rooms without payment of rent, and threatened to deal with the landlord if he dares to come near the house.
According to media reports, the incident happened on April 14, 2023, at the house located at New Road, Ijegun, in the Igando-Ikotun LCDA of Alimosho LGA.
The unknown tenants, who were said to have come from the Northern part of Nigeria to Lagos State to start scrap business, went to the house, broke into the apartments, and took possession.
The landlord fled from the house, ran to the Police, and reported his predicament after the tenants forcefully took possession.
Thus, the Police operatives from Isheri Oshun Division moved into action and arrested five of the suspects , Aliu Abubaka, 28, Okasha Abdulahi, 19, Bashir Sanni, 30, Nura Haruna, 19, and Sani Salisu, 20 and detained them for interrogation over their conduct while others were said to be at large.
During interrogation, the Police discovered that the suspects forcefully broke into the house, occupied the place without the consent of the landlord, damaged some of the properties therein, and had not paid a dime as rent.
The Police found them culpable and subsequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, burglary, and malicious damage. They, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for the hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs K.A. Ariyo, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of a means of livelihood and verified addresses.
The matter was then adjourned while the defendants were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
