Landlord Sentenced to 3-years Jail Term For Evicting Tenant With Force

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a landlord, Iyabo Adakeja, (47), to three years imprisonment for removing a tenant’s roofing sheet without his consent to forcefully cause him to vacate his apartment.

The Magistrate, Taiwo Ajibade, gave the verdict in the judgment.NAN reports that the Police Prosecutor, Mr David Erima, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 13, 2013 at about 3:00 p.m. at No 38, Ekute Street, Ado-Ekiti.On the said date, the accused, unlawfully and forcefully, ejected her tenant, Sunday Agbaje and also threatened his life.Erima said that consequent upon the removal of the roof, heavy rain poured and damaged Agbeje’s property,including mattresses, camera, fridge, generator, DVD, clothes, television sets and other items, worth over N300, 000.He said the offence was punishable under Section 401 ofthe Criminal Code; Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2013.Counsel to the accused, Mr Yemi Adebayo, urged the court to be lenient in the dispensation of justice to his client.The magistrate, however, sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment or to pay an option of fine of N50, 000.

Its a lesson for all landlords to learn from.