29th April, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
An angry tenant has been arrested and charged before a magistrate’s court sitting in Ejigbo for allegedly attempting to set his caretaker ablaze over house rent in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
The tenant, Damian Maduakor allegedly bought some petrol and kept it in his house after his caretaker, Eric Maduekwe informed him that he was coming to collect arrears of rent he owed his landlord.
The incident happened at Tope Oluwasun street, Igando where Maduakor rented an apartment.
P.M. NEWS gathered that Maduakor was owing arrears of rent which prompted his landlord, Lewis Nwankwo to drag him to court for ejection.
The court however ruled that the landlord did not serve him properly with a quit notice as the tenant was paying yearly as such he was entitled to six months notice instead of one month notice given to him.
Thus the magistrate’s court sitting at Ogba ruled in favour of the Maduakor because he was not given proper notice.
However, the caretaker insisted that he would recover the arrears of rents despite the fact that he was given fresh notice to pack out of the house.
On the day, the incident happened, Maduakor reportedly brought out a gallon of petrol and poured on it Eric Maduekwe however, before he could set him ablaze, Maduekwe took to his heels and escaped.
The matter was reported to the police at Igando division. Maduakor was then arrested and charged before the Ejigbo court for the alleged offence.
He was charged with threatening the life of Maduekwe with petrol under the Criminal Code.
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs J.O.E Adeyemi granted Maduakor bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
The matter was adjourned till 4 May 2016.