Guard Dislodges Boss As Landlord

A 47-year old security guard, Akintola Olatunji has been arraigned before an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court Lagos State Southwest Nigeria for allegedly dislodging his employer and landlord, Alhaji Lasisi Fatai and taking possession his one-storey building located at 9/11 Fagbile Estate Isheri-Oshun, Lagos.

He lives in the house with his family and rented out some flats for five years without the landlord’s knowledge and consent.

Olatunji and Alhaji Fatai now fighting over the ownership of the house Olatunji was employed to guard.
Ekiti State-born Olatunji is claiming that he had bought the house for N7 million from the landlord through his agent he identified as Dele Peter.

He told P.M.NEWS that the purchase was based on trust and he was paying the money instalmentally  and that both parties agreed that after full payment he would be issued a receipt.

According to some residents of the estate, it was not clear how Olatunji  took over the building and rented the flats to tenants without the knowledge of his employer.

Thereafter, he went to join the landlords association in the area and told them that he had bought the place in 2009 and that was why the landlord stopped coming to the house.

But the landlords wondered how a well known guard would buy such a house without the knowledge of other landlords in the area.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the landlords contacted the owner and his relations and told them what happened.
The police was immediately contacted and Olatunji was arrested and charged to court on a 15-count charge of misconduct, obtaining under false pretence and stealing.

Explaining what happened, Olatunji claimed he paid N7 million to the landlord’s agent and took over the ownership of the house.

He also said  he bought the place on trust and he was not issued any receipt in respect of the purchase.
On his part, the landlord told P.M.NEWS that he was still shocked over what happened.

Fatai said he assisted Olatunji when he was told about his condition by engaging him as guard.
Olatunji was charged before the a senior Magistrate, Mrs M. B. Folami.
He pleaded not guilty.

He was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when he perfects his bail conditions.
The matter has been adjourned till 13 March 2013.
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