Court allays repercussion fear as landlord refunds N24,000 to evicted tenant
The president of the Abeokuta Customary Grade II Court sitting at Ake, Chief Olalekan Akande, yesterday allayed fear of any negative incident happening in the aftermath of the eviction of a tenant, Chief Dauda Animashaun. Akande made the remark after Animashaun had notified the court that the talk had been flying that he had sworn […]
The president of the Abeokuta Customary Grade II Court sitting at Ake, Chief Olalekan Akande, yesterday allayed fear of any negative incident happening in the aftermath of the eviction of a tenant, Chief Dauda Animashaun.
Akande made the remark after Animashaun had notified the court that the talk had been flying that he had sworn that whoever reoccupied his vacant apartment would die.
The court had directed that the landlord of the house, Chief Atanda Ogunwemimo, return the rent sum of N24,000 he collected from Animashaun, who had been his tenant for 14 years, before he could be granted an eviction order he had sought.
The same court had ruled on January 8, 2018 that since the tenant had paid a rent sum covering 12 months, which was supposed to last till November 2018, it was only fair that his money be returned to him before asking him to quit.
“In fact, morally, you should have come with the money this morning. So, you are at fault in this case now. You cannot expect us to send him out because you have come to the court,” Akande had told the landlord on January 8.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Ogunwemimo made good the promise when he produced the money.
But before collecting the refund, Animashaun had protested against a claim he was alleged to have been made that whoever occupies the apartment he was exiting would die. “So my Lord, I want to let them say it before the court,” the tenant said.
But Ogunwemimo debunked the claim, saying, “maybe the people in the neighbourhood are those making such a statement.”
Akande then commended both parties for arriving at a mutual understanding and wished the tenant a peaceful stay in his next place of residence.