A Grade “A” Customary Court in Shomolu, Lagos, on Wednesday ordered the sealing-off of 12 apartments at 9, Laulah Ibrahimo Str., Bariga.
The court took the action following the refusal of the 12 occupants of the apartment to appear before the court over alleged environmental nuisance.
The affected tenants have on three occasions refused to honour summons to appear in court. They were summoned on Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 24.
However, six other tenants who honoured the court summons on Nov. 1 were each fined N500 when they pleaded guilty.
Court President, Modupe Bajulaiye, while ordering the sealing-off of the apartments, said while six of the tenants had been appearing in court the others refused.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Iyabowale Okeowo, who is the Health Officer, Bariga Local Council Development Area , urged the court to deal decisively with the affected tenants.
Felicia Kehinde, wife of the deceased landlord, who is also an occupant, told the court that the affected tenants were duly informed of the court order.
Bajulaiye, however, adjourned the case till Nov. 29 for continuation.
In a related development, the Court President threatened to commit to jail four tenants of 10, Jebina Str., Bariga, who were brought to court on bench warrant, for contempt of court.
The tenants had also earlier refused to heed summons to appear before the court for environmental nuisance in their premises.
Bajulaiye, however, gave each of the four tenants who pleaded not guilty to contempt, an option of a N5,000 fine.
The Health Officer earlier told the court that the landlord and tenants needed to be fined for failure to appear in court.
The case has been adjourned till Nov. 29 for further hearing.
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