By Peace Oloruntoba

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An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered one Mrs Seun Omoniyi, to pay N70,000 to her landlord, Mr Mike Boladele, for damaging his apartment amid a rent dispute.

The case arose from allegations that Mrs Omoniyi damaged  windows, doors, door handles and floor tiles in the rented apartment.

Mrs Omoniyi denied intentionally damaging the property, attributing the destruction to her children.

“How can I deliberately spoil someone’s house? I am not that kind of person,” she told the court.

The landlord told the court that trouble started after he increased the rent, which led to tension between them and the eventual damage.

Presiding Magistrate Taiwo Lebi ruled that regardless of the disagreement, no tenant has the right to destroy a landlord’s property.

He reminded both parties that economic hardship is no excuse for unlawful behaviour.

Initially, the court ordered Mrs Omoniyi to pay N100,000 and vacate the apartment by the end of June.

However, considering her lack of job  and inability to pay the full amount, the magistrate reduced the compensation to N70,000, but kept the eviction deadline.

Mrs Omoniyi was therefore directed to pay the sum and vacate the premises before June ending.