Lagos mediation center restores family back home after 18 days lockout by landlord

The Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) Ojokoro-Ijaiye has successfully restored the family of Olalekan Balogun back to their apartment after being locked out by the aggrieved landlord for 18 days.

In a press release signed by the Public Affairs Officer, CMC, Mr Popoola Naheem Olaide, the family was denied access to their apartment and rendered homeless after the landlord allegedly seized their belongings and sent them packing over their inability to meet up with the rent payment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which adversely affected the family business.

Mr. Balogun had reported the matter to Nigeria Police at the Meiran Police Station but efforts of the Police proved abortive as the Landlord, Edwin Odigie failed to honour Police invitations.

Commenting on the incident, Balogun stated he was poorly treated by his landlord.
In his words: “All i had for many days, was the cloth on my body because my landlord denied us access into our apartment because I could not meet up with payment of rent due to the Covid-19 Pandemic which adversely affected my small scale business”.

The quick intervention of Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) finally brought succor to the homeless family as the Centre invited the parties to mediation sessions where the misunderstanding between them was resolved and the family was granted full access to their apartment and belongings. In addition the family was given an extention of two month stay in the apartment till 31st May, 2021.

The total sum of N170, 0000 was also waived from the house rent arrears to further ease the eventual relocation of Mr. Balogun and his family to a new property on or before 31st May, 2021.