A tenant, Mr. Oluwaseun Bamisile, 57, has been arrested by operatives from the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos and charged before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly issuing two dud cheques bearing Access and Stanbic IBTC Banks valued at N9,150,000 to his landlord, AEQUITAS Partners, as part payment of the about five years rent arrears he was allegedly owing the complainant.
Cisca News reports that the Police said that when the complainant presented the cheques at the bank for payment, it was dishonored due to lack of funds in the tenant’s account.
Police alleged that following the development, the complainant petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, who swiftly directed his men to arrest him.
After investigation by ASP Martins Dagan and his team, the tenant was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate Court at the Tinubu Magistrate Court on a two count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheques.
Police Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Solomon, told the Court in the charge marked P_27/2025 that the defendant committed the offence on 9 November, 2020 and 6 November, 2024 at his residence located at Eleganza Gardens opposite Victoria Gardens City, Lagos.
Solomon informed the court that the defendant owed the complainant about five years rent arrears and that when the complainant requested for the payment of the rent arrears, the defendant allegedly deliberately issued Access Bank cheque valued at N1,250,000 and Stanbic IBTC Bank cheque all valued at N9,250,000 to the complainant as part payment knowing fully that he had no money in his account. When the complainant presented the cheques at the bank, they were rejected on the ground that there was no money in the defendant’s account leading to his arrest.
Solomon said the offences, which the defendant committed were punishable under Sections 321 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Wahab, granted him N1,000,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
Wahab adjourned the case till 27th August, 2025, for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi correctional facility till he perfects the bail conditions.