Landlord locks out tenants for failure to pay rent

Etim Effiong

A landlord, Mr Edwin Odigie, has allegedly seized his tenant, Olalekan Balogun of 10, Powerline, European Quarters in the Meiran area of Lagos, property as he locked the man and his children out from their room and parlour apartment since last week Thursday.

It was learnt that attempts by the Nigeria Police Force, to appeal to the landlord to reconsider his stance proved abortive as the landlord refused to honour their invitation.

A source said that the Baloguns, who is a family of five – three children ages 16, 9, and 7 are stranded with no access to their belongings at their rented apartment.

The source said that the family rented the apartment in 2018 after paying their annual rent into a bank account.

According to the sourced, they could not renew the rent before the outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic in January 2021.

The source added that the landlord issued quit notices which lapsed a month after and their belongings were allegedly seized and they were locked out since March 25.

Some neighbours, who spoke with our correspondents said five tenants were occupying the building but two had moved out before the quit notices were given to the remaining three including a pregnant woman.

They added that two others were able to put them up for sale while the Baloguns, could not meet up before the arrival of their America -based landlord who allegedly seized their belongings.

It was further learnt that the landlord was planning to convert the storey building to a hotel, hence the short quit notices issued to the tenants.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said the case would be handled professionally.

“The DPO Meiran has been asked to intervene. I have even involved the Area Commander, Area ‘P’, ACP Adepoju to look into the matter.

“It will be professionally handled,” he said.