Court orders tenant to pay N3.5m rent arrears to landlord

An FCT High Court in Maitama on Friday compelled a tenant, one
Abdurrahim Abdul, to pay his landlord, Ama Real Estate Ltd. in
Katampe, FCT, N3.5m as unpaid rent and outstanding balance.
Justice Jude Okeke in a ruling said the plaintiff had provided
enough evidence to justify the grounds of reliefs sought.

“Having carefully examined the reliefs sought by the plaintiff,
the cardinal issue is whether the plaintiff has made out a case to
justify the grounds of the reliefs sought.

“There is no evidence before the court that the defendant paid
the rent of 2016 to 2017 and the service charge.

“In the foregoing, it is apparent that the defendant is indebted
to the plaintiff in the sum of N2.6m and N650,000, being the unpaid
rent and service charge for the said premise.

“This being the case, the defendant is ordered to pay forthwith
to the plaintiff a sum of N950,000 being outstanding balance for
the tenancy period of 2014 to 2015; and a sum of N2.6m being unpaid
rent for the tenancy period of 2016 to 2017,’’ Justice Okeke
said.

Okeke said that from the records of the court, the plaintiff was
the owner of the said property and entered into tenancy agreement
with the defendant on October 2014.

According to him, the agreement started in October 2014 and
extended to September 2015 for N2.6m unremitted rent.

He said that a certain fee known as service charge, which varies
from year to year, was also discussed and agreed upon by the
parties.

Okeke said the records also showed that the plaintiff later
entered into an oral tenancy agreement with the defendant, which
commenced in October 2015 and expired on September 30, 2016.

He said the agreement between the parties was that the reserved
rent be paid in advance of the total of N3.2m.

Okeke said the sum comprised N2.6m as rent and N650,000 service
charge, but the defendant paid only N2.3m, leaving a balance of
N950,000 on the reserved rent.

He said that during the proceedings, the defendant’s counsel
said he was not aware of a move for settlement and promised to
confirm it with the defendant before he prayed for adjournment,
which was granted.

Okeke said the defendant’s counsel also did not file his notice
of intention to defend.

He said the defendant and his counsel were not in court twice
and never gave reasons for their absence and the suit was
accordingly heard as undefended list as prescribed by the law.
(NAN)

An FCT High Court in Maitama on Friday compelled a tenant, one
Abdurrahim Abdul, to pay his landlord, Ama Real Estate Ltd. in
Katampe, FCT, N3.5m as unpaid rent and outstanding
balance.
Justice Jude Okeke in a ruling said the plaintiff had provided
enough evidence to justify the grounds of reliefs sought.

“Having carefully examined the reliefs sought by the plaintiff,
the cardinal issue is whether the plaintiff has made out a case to
justify the grounds of the reliefs sought.

“There is no evidence before the court that the defendant paid
the rent of 2016 to 2017 and the service charge.

“In the foregoing, it is apparent that the defendant is indebted
to the plaintiff in the sum of N2.6m and N650,000, being the unpaid
rent and service charge for the said premise.

“This being the case, the defendant is ordered to pay forthwith
to the plaintiff a sum of N950,000 being outstanding balance for
the tenancy period of 2014 to 2015; and a sum of N2.6m being unpaid
rent for the tenancy period of 2016 to 2017,’’ Justice Okeke
said.

Okeke said that from the records of the court, the plaintiff was
the owner of the said property and entered into tenancy agreement
with the defendant on October 2014.

According to him, the agreement started in October 2014 and
extended to September 2015 for N2.6m unremitted rent.

He said that a certain fee known as service charge, which varies
from year to year, was also discussed and agreed upon by the
parties.

Okeke said the records also showed that the plaintiff later
entered into an oral tenancy agreement with the defendant, which
commenced in October 2015 and expired on September 30, 2016.

He said the agreement between the parties was that the reserved
rent be paid in advance of the total of N3.2m.

Okeke said the sum comprised N2.6m as rent and N650,000 service
charge, but the defendant paid only N2.3m, leaving a balance of
N950,000 on the reserved rent.

He said that during the proceedings, the defendant’s counsel
said he was not aware of a move for settlement and promised to
confirm it with the defendant before he prayed for adjournment,
which was granted.

Okeke said the defendant’s counsel also did not file his notice
of intention to defend.

He said the defendant and his counsel were not in court twice
and never gave reasons for their absence and the suit was
accordingly heard as undefended list as prescribed by the law.
(NAN)