‘Using Thugs To Eject Tenants Illegal’

A Lagos-based real estate practitioner, Mr Ademola Ayobami, has warned landlords in the state against ejecting their tenants using hoodlums, which he described as illegal.

Ayobami stated this on Tuesday during a telephone interview with The PUNCH (not ABN TV), adding that the state government also had the responsibility to compensate landlords when their properties are compulsorily acquired by the state.

He said, “A landlord is the owner of a premise or the holder of the reversionary interest in the property. That means that at the expiration of every tenancy, the right to possession and ownership of the said premises goes back to the landlord.

“But to lawfully eject a tenant, the appropriate notices have to be given in accordance with the law before proceeding to the court.

“It is illegal to use self-help by inviting thugs or ‘area-boys’ to assist in ejecting a tenant as it happens many times in Lagos State. Those culpable can be liable for the crime of disruption of public peace and criminal assault among others.

“The governor of the state, by virtue of the Land Use Act, has the right to compulsorily acquire properties within the state for ‘overriding public purposes.’

However, whenever such occurs, the landlord has the right to be given compensation by the state government for the unexhausted improvements he has made on the land.”

The real estate practitioner further stated that tenants are protected by law from being arbitrarily evicted by the landlord.