Lagos court arraigns tenant over alleged illegal apartment alteration

A 34-year-old tenant, Henry Chijioke Chukwuma, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court over allegations of carrying out unauthorised structural alterations to his rented apartment in the Ajah area of the state without the consent of his landlord.

Chukwuma was arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Lagos, following a petition filed by his landlord, Moses Okeoma, over the alleged modifications to the property located at Vintage Estate, Ajah.

According to the police, the defendant rented the apartment and subsequently carried out structural changes by partitioning sections of the flat, relocating the bathroom entrance and damaging part of the wall without obtaining the landlord’s approval.

The police alleged that the alterations violated existing building regulations and were carried out without the required authorisation.

Following the landlord’s complaint, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, directed officers to investigate the matter and prevent the dispute from escalating into a breach of public peace.

After investigations conducted by Inspector Odijile Eghonghon and his team, Chukwuma was charged before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge bordering on alleged wilful damage to the bathroom wall and door.

During the proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Superintendent of Police Reuben Solomon, told the court that the defendant ought to have obtained the landlord’s consent before making any structural adjustments to the apartment.

He argued that since the defendant had accepted the apartment without raising any concerns before moving in, any subsequent alteration required prior approval from the property owner.

The prosecutor further submitted that the alleged act contravenes government building regulations and is punishable under Section 337 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate T.O. Abayomi admitted him to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like amount.

The case was adjourned until August 14, 2026, for mention.