A tenant, Mr Kelvin Chibuike Ani, has petitioned the state police commissioner, Mr. Ahmad Abdurrahman against his forceful eviction by his landlord, destroying his businesses and property even when his tenancy would expire on December 31, 2020.
Ani in the petition signed by his counsel, E. M. Offordile, dated July 17, 2020, said he was a yearly tenant to one Mr Nnamdi Charles Izundu, who lives abroad, but gives instructions to one Nnamdi Sheriff and one Ndubusi; and was in lawful occupation, under yearly tenancy of the premises known as Sunny side Guest House, at No. 4 Akulueuno Street, Obinagu Road Abakpa Nike Enugu, where he carried on his business of catering services from October 2015.
He said that despite he had continued to pay his rent in respect of the premises, he was served notice to quit on June 29, 2019 and deliver possession on December 31, 2020.
Ani stated that the notice to quit, which he attached to the petition was filed in court and served on him by the bailiff of the court and requires him to quit and deliver up possession of the premises at the expiration of the notice, on December 31, 2020.
He claimed in the petition titled: ‘Re: Conspiracy, threat to life, breaking and entry, forcible entry upon premises under lawful possession of Ani Chibuike Kelvin, stealing, malicious damage to property, assaults, forceful eviction of Ani Chibuike Kelvin and conduct likely to cause breach of peace by Mr. Charles Nnamdi Izundu, Mr. Nnamdi Sheriff, Mr. Ndubusi and their cohorts’, that he was carrying out his business, when the landlord through his agents on June 30, stormed his business premises and ordered him to vacate on July 1, 2020 or be thrown out.
The petition read: “While our client tried to let them understand that he was served with a notice to quit the premises, the previous day, and he is expected to deliver possession on 31st December 2020. They instead assaulted him for daring to explain when they have made their order.
“Our client made complainant to the Area Command concerning the threat to his life, assault, eminent danger to his business and danger of his forceful and unlawful eviction from the premises; and asked that he be protected by the law.
“As they had threatened on July 1, 2020 they carried their threats as they forcefully entered the premises, chased away his customers, his employees, and destroyed his fittings in the premises, destroyed his decorative flowers and flower vase/pots, stole his decorative artistic works and portraits worth hundreds of thousands of naira. They continued the raid on the premises from July 1 to 4 when he was finally thrown out from the premises without any of his property including his clothing, except the clothe he had on his body when he was thrown out.”
He however, alleged that 25 containers of wine made up of different kinds were carted away by the said agents during the raid.
“So, during the raid oil (Palm, groundunt and vegetable), food (both cooked uncooked), beverages, meat, fish and lots of other food items stored in the Guest House were maliciously damaged while the rest were carted away and N170,000 kept including N20,000 the employees made before the raid were stolen.”
Ani regretted that despite assurances of the police officer assigned to investigate his complaint at the Area Command of the state police command, one Inspector Nonso, yet he did not showed up when the destruction of his businesses and property were carried out.
When the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe was contacted on telephone on the matter, he declined to make comment on the issue.
