Tenant sues landlord for removing house roof

The police yesterday arraigned a landlord, Emesiabun Fred, 40, in an Upper Area Court in Gudu, for removing the roof of his tenant’s house.
Fred, who resides in Apo resettlement, was charged with criminal trespass and mischief.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Isreal Nongo, told the court that Mr Chibueze Ejieji of No. 134, Zone E, Apo, lodged a report against the accused at the Apo police station on January 28.

He said that the accused intentionally trespassed into Ejieji’s apartment and forcefully removed the roof.
Nongo said that the offence contravened the provisions of section 347 and is punishable to section 348 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, he faces one year in prison or an option to pay a fine of N100 or both.
After the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty saying that he wanted to carry out renovation on the property.

The accused’s counsel, Mr Bode Thomas, made a bail application in favour of his client, assuring the court that a reliable surety would be provided if the bail was granted.

The presiding Judge, Mr Abdullahi Abdulkareem, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety.
Abdulkareem also ordered that the surety must own a landed property in the FCT and adjourned the case to March 19 for hearing.(NAN)