17th December, 2013
An estate agent, Mr. Dito Oyoakombo on Monday made a shocking revelation before the Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, western Nigeria when he narrated how a tenant, Akintola Olatunji chased away his landlord, Alhaji Lasisi Fatai, in a mysterious circumstance and took possession of a one-storey building located at Isheri-Oshun, Lagos State.
Olatunji, he disclosed, took possession of the house, occupied a flat and rented the rest to other tenants.
Olatunji is facing trial for taking possession and renting six flats of the storey building to tenants.
Oyoakombo told the court that Olatunji was engaged as a security guard at the house located at 9/11 Fagbile Estate, Isheri Oshun where he was also a tenant.
The witness told the court further that the accused prevented the landlord from entering the house for four years through diabolical means and rented out the flats, telling tenants that he bought the house for N7m.
When asked to produce the receipt of the house he claimed he bought, he couldn’t and was arrested.
Some of the tenants he rented the six flats were identified as: Bolarinwa Isaac, N300,000; Temitope Olanipekun, N175,000; Dana Kalu, N300,000; Ade Adebowale, N180,000; Mayowa Adekunle, N170,000.
The estate agent who was testifying before Magistrate M.B. Folami said throughout the period Olatunji took possession of the house, Lasisi did not remember or step in the house until he came to his senses.
Oyoakombo said when he accompanied the complainant to the house, they discovered that Olatunji had taken possession and rented the flats to some tenants.
The matter was reported at the Isheri Oshun police division and Olatunji was arrested and charged to court.
Olatunji had told the court when he was arraigned that the property belonged to him because he paid N7m to Fatai’s agent identified as Dele Peter who did not issue him any receipt. He was granted bail but he was unable to meet the bail conditions and was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri.
The matter was adjourned till 15 January, 2014 for continuation of trial.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe