A 50-year-old man, Igwe James, has been dragged before the Magistrate Court in Life Camp, Abuja, for his alleged refusal to pay his rent for ten years.

The Prosecution counsel, ASP Peter Ejike, of FCT Police Command, told the court that the complainant, Mogbo Godffrey, reported the case at the Life Camp Police Station at 8 a.m, on the 2nd day of February, 2020.

He alleged that in 2009, the complainant, who is the defendant’s landlord, rented out his apartment for N30, 000 yearly and James paid.

Ejike noted that subsequently, the defendant refused to pay the rent for 10 years as at November 2019.

He also alleged that the defendant fraudulently rented out another empty apartment in the building to one Ordi Chinedu, for N150, 000 without the consent of the landlord.

He said the offence contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

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

Magistrate Nwecheonwu Elewe admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, adding that the addresses of the sureties must be verified by the court officials.

The case has been adjourned to March 31st, 2020, for hearing.

[NAN]