Court Reverses 100% Rent Increment

The much needed relief sought by some members of the Lagos State chapter of Finished Textile Dealers Association has come as the Lagos State High Court halted an alleged plot by the landlord of Broadway Shopping Plaza, Sunday Omose, to increase their rent by 100 per cent.

The members who are tenants at the plaza had instituted a case against Omose at the commercial division of the Lagos State High Court, challenging among other things, the 100 per cent rent increment and an alleged order from the landlord for them to pay three years rent upfront.

Counsel to the union, Kennedy Osunwa, had argued, citing Section 4 subsections 1 and 2, to the effect that it was illegal for a sitting tenant in Lagos State to pay rent in excess of one year.

The landlord’s counsel, Okechukwu Umemuo, had denied the allegation of the 100 per cent rent increment and three years’ upfront payment.

Justice O. H. Oshodi in his ruling on Thursday halted the increment and ordered the claimants to pay their normal rents on or before December 31, 2014.

“The claimants shall pay into the first defendant’s account their respective rent that is now due as assigned to their names in the particulars above on or before December 31, 2014.

“Case adjourned till January 27, 2015 for the determination of motion on notice,” Oshodi said.

The Chairman of the union, Patrick Uzoma, expressed happiness at the judgement.

He said the decision of the court will go a long way in checkmating impunity of some businessmen.

The defendant was not in court.



Source: Punch News