The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Landlord

  • Landlord to insure old, new buildings

    Lagos State government is  to introduce mandatory insurance for all existing and new buildings in line with the Insurance Act 2003 provisions.

    Lagos State Safety Commission, (LSSC) Director-General Mr. Hakeem Dickson,  said henceforth, it was mandatory for house owners and new ones under construction, to insure their property as stipulated by law.

    He said Dickson was addressing reporters on ‘’naija safe Awards 2017.”He said in the event of disaster, victims would be able to access compensation from the insurance companies instead of having to wait on government every time.

    Dickson said the state was already talking to a consortium of insurance companies through the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and that the measure, which is proactive, was to bring the state at par with developments around the world.

    To ensure success of the exercise, Dickson said the commission has been reorganised and its members of staff reassigned to ensure innovative approach and better delivery of service to the public.

    Speaking on the “naija safe awards 2017”, he said the event was meant to recognise, encourage outstanding performances and initiatives of organisations, individuals and groups towards promoting and raising safety consciousness among workers and citizens.

    The Chief Coordinating Officer, naija Safe Awards 2017, Mr Femi Da-Silva, further explained that the award was aimed at promoting health, safety and environment (HSE) best practices in the workplace and generally raise safety consciousness.

    Da-Silva said over 170 industry professionals attended the maiden edition of the award in 2015, while nominations were received from 15 states across the nation with 345 nominees from different sectors of the economy.

  • Landlord swapped murder weapon, says witness

    There was a surprise at the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan yesterday when a defence witness testified that a prosecution witness in the murder case involving a lawyer, admitted to substituting the murder weapon.

    The lawyer, Yewande Oyediran, is standing trial for allegedly stabbing her husband, Lowo, to death on February 2, last year, at their Ibadan home.

    Kayode Oloyede, who claimed to be a farmer and a relative of the witness, told the court that the witness, who is the couple’s landlord, told him in private that the incident was the second killing in his house.

    Oloyede started his testimony by telling the court that the assertions of the landlord, Chief Adelodun Akinpelu, that he does not know Michael Folorunso Ogunlana, alias Michael Lana, was also false.

    He added that both of them are relatives and they are known to each other.

    The witness told the court how Akinpelu told him and his younger brother, Michael Lana, about how he swapped the murder weapon.

    In his words: “I had a meeting with my younger brother, Michael Lana, sometimes last October and during the meeting there was a certain number calling his phone persistently.

    ‘’I asked my brother to pick the call and it turned out to be Chief Akinpelu who told him to come over to his house at Idi Odan (Ibadan). I went to his place with my brother in company of one Kanbi.

    ‘’Chief Akinpelu invited us in. He told Kanbi to wait for us at his wife’s shop, because according to him, we were going to discuss a very important family issue.

    ‘’Chief Akinpelu later told Michael that he needed his advice over the murder case involving Yewande, who has been charged for murdering her husband.

    “When Michael asked what his concern with the matter was, he answered that the couple were his tenants and that the late victim fell down and died on his door steps.

    ‘’He then told us that when Lowo collapsed on the steps, he changed the knife that was used to stab him and that when the police came for investigations, he gave them a different knife.

    ‘’Micahel (Lana) scolded him for tampering with evidence and that he ought to have left the knife and allowed the police to find it.

    ‘’He told my brother that he didn’t want to be a witness in the case and he ( Michael) advised him to tell his lawyer that he was insolvent and won’t be able to pay his way to the court.”

    The family’s counsel, Abayomi Alliyu, objected to the accounts of the witness which he referred to as ‘’hearsays’’.

    But Justice Muktar Abimbola overruled him and told him that the rules of admissibility support the accounts of the witness as he was   recounting an event that happened in his presence.

    He had earlier enquired from the prosecuting counsel, S.S. Akinyele, if he objected to the witness’ accounts, to which he responded in the negative.

    During cross examination by the prosecutor, the witness told the court that he grew up in the house hold of one Chief Ojo, who was the father of Michael Lana and that he is, his half brother.

    He also said that chief Akinpelu did not mention the name of the victim during his discussion with him and his younger brother.

    The second defense witness , one James Oluwatuyi of the telecommunication Company, MTN, told the court that his company has been subpoenaed to produce the logs of the calls made and received by MTN nos ..08034107268 and 08033610516, between October and November 2016.

    Both the prosecuting and defense counsels claimed that they have not seen the subpoena and the defense counsel, Mr. Leye Adepoju requested for an adjournment till Wednesday, to enable him make available the necessary documents to support the defense’s claims.

    Justice Abimbola obliged and adjourned till today.

  • Landlord swapped murder weapon, says witness

    There was a surprise at the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan yesterday when a defence witness testified that a prosecution witness in the murder case involving a lawyer, admitted to substituting the murder weapon.
    The lawyer, Yewande Oyediran, is standing trial for allegedly stabbing her husband, Lowo, to death on February 2, last year, at their Ibadan home.
    Kayode Oloyede, who claimed to be a farmer and a relative of the witness, told the court that the witness, who is the couple’s landlord, told him in private that the incident was the second killing in his house.
    Oloyede started his testimony by telling the court that the assertions of the landlord, Chief Adelodun Akinpelu, that he does not know Michael Folorunso Ogunlana, alias Michael Lana, was also false.
    He added that both of them are relatives and they are known to each other.
    The witness told the court how Akinpelu told him and his younger brother, Michael Lana, about how he swapped the murder weapon.
    In his words: “I had a meeting with my younger brother, Michael Lana, sometimes last October and during the meeting there was a certain number calling his phone persistently.
    ‘’I asked my brother to pick the call and it turned out to be Chief Akinpelu who told him to come over to his house at Idi Odan (Ibadan). I went to his place with my brother in company of one Kanbi.
    ‘’Chief Akinpelu invited us in. He told Kanbi to wait for us at his wife’s shop, because according to him, we were going to discuss a very important family issue.
    ‘’Chief Akinpelu later told Michael that he needed his advice over the murder case involving Yewande, who has been charged for murdering her husband.
    “When Michael asked what his concern with the matter was, he answered that the couple were his tenants and that the late victim fell down and died on his door steps.
    ‘’He then told us that when Lowo collapsed on the steps, he changed the knife that was used to stab him and that when the police came for investigations, he gave them a different knife.
    ‘’Micahel (Lana) scolded him for tampering with evidence and that he ought to have left the knife and allowed the police to find it.
    ‘’He told my brother that he didn’t want to be a witness in the case and he ( Michael) advised him to tell his lawyer that he was insolvent and won’t be able to pay his way to the court.”
    The family’s counsel, Abayomi Alliyu, objected to the accounts of the witness which he referred to as ‘’hearsays’’.
    But Justice Muktar Abimbola overruled him and told him that the rules of admissibility support the accounts of the witness as he was recounting an event that happened in his presence.
    He had earlier enquired from the prosecuting counsel, S.S. Akinyele, if he objected to the witness’ accounts, to which he responded in the negative.
    During cross examination by the prosecutor, the witness told the court that he grew up in the house hold of one Chief Ojo, who was the father of Michael Lana and that he is, his half brother.
    He also said that chief Akinpelu did not mention the name of the victim during his discussion with him and his younger brother.
    The second defense witness , one James Oluwatuyi of the telecommunication Company, MTN, told the court that his company has been subpoenaed to produce the logs of the calls made and received by MTN nos ..08034107268 and 08033610516, between October and November 2016.
    Both the prosecuting and defense counsels claimed that they have not seen the subpoena and the defense counsel, Mr. Leye Adepoju requested for an adjournment till Wednesday, to enable him make available the necessary documents to support the defense’s claims.
    Justice Abimbola obliged and adjourned till today.

  • Gunmen abduct three landlords in Lagos

    Gunmen abduct three landlords in Lagos

    Hooded gunmen in military camouflage on Saturday morning invaded Channels Avenue, Isheri, Lagos State and whisked away three people.

    The victims, who are landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate, had gone beside Lekki Gardens Estate with four others for their routine exercise.

    The Nation gathered that Lekki Gardens Estate is situated at the extreme of the Long Avenue, sharing a common boundary with the Warewa and Wawa creeks in Ogun State.

    Our correspondent gathered that about five minutes after they got to the exercise venue and were about spreading their mats, armed men numbering about eight surrounded the landlords, shot sporadically into the air before whisking them (landlords) away.

    While Kennedy Ucheagwu, Dr. Omololu Bello and Mr. Esang were whisked away by the kidnappers, Pius Ojoromi, Engr. Gbenga Babayemi, Banjo Obisanya and Coach Ola, it was gathered, fled upon sighting the hooded men.

  • Tenant pushes landlord from storey building down

    Tenant pushes landlord from storey building down

    The Police have arraigned a 32-year-old man, Akeem Sanni before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s court for alleged assault.

    Akeem was arrested by men from Denton Police Station for allegedly pushing Jimoh Oriyomi, his landlord, down from a storey building.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Maria Dauda told the court that the accused had on May 27 on 29, Park Road, Ebute Meta, Lagos pushed down Oriyomi from a storey-building where he was living.

    She informed the court that the complainant, Oriyomi, discovered that Sanni had illegally “tapped” electricity supply from his flat without his permission.

    “When the complainant accosted Sanni, he vowed to deal with him for discovering the illegal connection.

    “On the day, Sanni had slapped Jimoh’s wife. While Jimoh was defending his wife, Sanni lifted Jimoh and threw him down from the one storey-building,’’ she said.

    Sanni is facing trial on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

    It was said that the defendant had on several occasion threatened to injured the landlord and his wife.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Dauda told the court that the defendant has committed an offence punishable under Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, Nigeria, 2011.

    Defence Counsel Saka Oladele applied for the bail of the defendant in the most liberal terms.

    Magistrate Tosin Fowowe-Erusiafe admitted the defendant to N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She also ordered that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the state government.

    She then adjourned the case to November 1 for mention.

  • Landlord docked for ‘assaulting’ female tenant

    A landlord, Segun Oye, who allegedly assaulted a female tenant, Uche Elodinmuo, has appeared before a Surulere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, 49, who lives on 4, Ayo Davies Close, off Ekololu Street, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault.

    Prosecuting Inspector Gabriel Ekundayo said the accused committed the offence at the same address at about 8.45pm on April 19.

    Ekundayo said Elodinmuo reported the incident at Orile-Iganmu Police Station.

    “The accused came and assaulted her in front of her room when she complained about her missing fuel in the compound.

    “Other co-tenants have been complaining about missing fuel too, suspecting the gateman may be stealing the fuel to fill the landlord’s generator.

    “The landlord slapped the woman several times and also dragged her on the floor… she sustained bruises on her face and back.’’

    The offence contravened Sections 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate M.I. Dan-Oni granted Oye N50,000 bail, with one surety in the like sum.

    Further hearing has been fixed for May 11.

  • Landlord docked for allegedly assaulting female tenant

    Landlord docked for allegedly assaulting female tenant

    A landlord, Segun Oye, who allegedly assaulted a female tenant, Uche Elodinmuo, has appeared before a Surulere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    The accused, 49, who lives at No. 4, Ayo Davies Close, off Ekololu Street, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge bordering on assault.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Gabriel Ekundayo, said the accused committed the offence at the same address at about 8.45 p.m. on April 19.

    Ekundayo told the court that the complainant, Elodinmuo, reported the incident at Orile-Iganmu Police Station.

    “The accused came and assaulted her in front of her room when she complained about her missing fuel in the compound.

    “Other co-tenants have been complaining about missing fuel too, suspecting the gateman may be stealing the fuel to fill the landlord’s generator.

    “The landlord slapped the woman several times and also dragged her on the floor… she sustained bruises on her face and back.’’

    The offences contravened Sections 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused denied the charge.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.I. Dan-Oni, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in the like sum.

    Further hearing has been fixed for May 11.

     

  • Tenant kills Landlord over electricity bill

    Tenant kills Landlord over electricity bill

    A 75-year old landlord in Ondo town was last weekend reportedly killed by his tenant over electricity bill.

    The Septugenarian named Kayode Osunkalu, was a retired civil servant at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and owner of a two-storey building located at 17, Ayeferere street, Ondo.

    He was said to be hale and hearty before the unfortunate incident.

    Sources said the late Septuagenarian, had before the incident had an argument with his tenant, Tope Akideji over electricity bill that was brought to the house by the officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    Osunkalu was said to have ordered all his tenants to pay up within 24-hour the bill brought to the house by the BEDC.

    The move was said to have infuriated the suspect which resulted into argument between them.

    The suspect was said to have held the late landlord for several minutes and allegedly beat him.

    The late landlord was said to have slumped in the process and was rushed to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital where he was later confirmed dead by the Doctors.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DP0)  in charge of Enuowa Division, Kunle Omisakin, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) confirmed the incident, adding that the suspect has been transferred to the homicide section in Akure for further investigation.

    He said the remains of the late landlord had been deposited at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital mortuary, Ondo, while investigation has continued on the matter.

  • Edo landlord stabs tenant over lady

    Doctors at the Central Hospital in Benin, the Edo State capital, yesterday battled to save Alex Aigbogun, following the injury he sustained in the stomach when his landlord, simply identified as Enogieru, stabbed him during a scuffle.

    The police reportedly took Aigbogun to the hospital at 9am in a Hilux van.

    Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at midnight.

    It was learnt that he could not be taken to the hospital until daybreak because there was no vehicle to carry him and money for his bill.

    A neighbour to the victim said the police told them there was no fuel in their vehicle to convey the victim to the hospital.

    He said this explained why Aigbogun was kept at home till daybreak.

    The incident occurred at 5 Ogiemwenken Street, off St. Saviour Road, Ikpoba, Okha Local Government Area.

    A neighbour, who gave his name as Peter Igbinosun, said the landlord fled after stabbing Aigbogun.

    Igbinosun said the landlord and Aigbogun met on Tuesday night at their regular drinking joint, where Enogieru had a quarrel with Aigbogun over a lady.

    He said: “They came to me and I settled the quarrel. I even asked this man (Aigbogun) to sleep in my house, but he refused.

    “He stabbed him around midnight. We didn’t have any money to go to the hospital. We went to the police and they said they didn’t have fuel to take him to the hospital.

    “The landlord has no wife. He stabbed his tenant many times with a broken bottle.”

    Efforts to reach police spokesman Stephen Onwochei, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), for comments were unsuccessful last night.

  • Landlord threatens mother, child  defiled by neighbour  with eviction

    Omowunmi, the mother of the 10 year old girl (names withheld) allegedly defiled by a co-tenant , Mayowa Adeyemi, is now being threatened with eviction from her one-room boys squatter apartment at Miyaki, Oworonshoki by her landlord.

    In spite of the psychological and traumatic experience she has been going through after the incident, the woman said she is also under pressure by her landlord simply called Baba Sulia and  a lawyer called Kayode, who is representing the interest of  the man who allegedly defiled her daughter to settle out of court and accept N100,000 compensation.

    Those who are also pleading with her to settle out of court and accept monetary compensation include the siblings of the defendant and  a lady who  lives in Bourdillon said to be a benefactor of the perpetrator of the dastardly act.

    Mayowa who is alleged to have defiled the child is presently being tried by the Police at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court sitting in Ogba.

    He was arraigned before the court presided by Chief Magistrate  Y. J. Badejo-Okusanya on charges bordering on child molestation and defilement on Monday August 24, 2015 and is presently in prison custody on the order of the court while the matter had been adjourned till October 12, 2015 for continuation of trial.

    Mayowa was arraigned by the police before the court following the outcome of the examination carried out on his victim at the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    From the Mirabel Centre, Omowunmi was referred to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) upon the medical evidences discovered by the centre corroborated the oral testimony of the victim, hence the commencement of his trial.

    Omowunmi said she woke up in the middle of the night on August 18, 2015 only to discover semen on the thigh and vagina of her nine year old daughter.

    Upon enquiry, the victim told her mother that her neighbour, Mayowa forcibly had canal knowledge of her.

    Asked why she did not cried out, the victim said her assailant covered her mouth with a pillow and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

    Upon the confession of the victim, the mother said she quickly called the RRS team who arrested the defendant and took them to Oworonshoki Police station.

    She said they were referred to Mirabel Centre by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Aisha for further test after her initial examination of the victim and based on what she discovered in the vagina of the victim.

    In spite of this development, the mother of two  said she is being threatened with eviction from her  one-room apartment despite that she has a subsisting tenancy arrangement on the house which she moved into December last year after paying for  a two year tenancy arrangement with her landlord.

    While the lawyer was pressuring her to accept N100,000 as compensation on behalf of the victim,  her landlord, simply called Baba Sulia threatened her with eviction because he was not consulted and given opportunity to intervene in the crisis between her and her neighbour in order to achieve amicable settlement between them before inviting the Police into the matter.

    She said in addition that her landlord and wife have continuosly abused her  in the most unprintable languages for refusing to drop the case instituted by the Police against Mayowa.

    She said she no longer feel safe in the house as the senior brother to her daughter’s assailant may have also been monitoring her movement as he daily, asked  of her movement  since the incident occurred two weeks ago.

    The threat of eviction of Omowunmi by her landlord is now being handled by the Citizen’s Mediation Centre(CMC) an agency of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

    The DSVRT Coordinator, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi said all those pressurizing the mother of the victim to drop the case have all been informed that these are issues that the state government is interested in and that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had already requested for the duplicate of the case file to be forwarded to the office.

    Vivour-Adeniyi  said the case epitomizes the undue external pressures faced by victims and their relatives to have these matters settled out of court. She stressed that the state government is however determined to ensure that justice is done in the matter.

    She said issues of rape, child defilement and other forms of domestic violence are crimes committed against the State and only the Attorney-General has the power to discontinue a matter. Victims should therefore be encouraged to speak out and urged members of community to desist from pressurizing victims to settle out of court.