Jos – A Jos Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday ordered a tenant, Habila Golu to pay up rent of N71,000 owned one Michael Bechina on or before Feb.1 or risked the court’s stiffer pronouncement.
Mr Tijjani Zololo, the Chief Magistrate gave the order as a second chance for the defendant to settle the arrears of the rent.
“The court is not unaware of the difficult times that we are in, but it is actionable when a tenant holds back rent meant to be enjoyed by the owner of the property.
“ The court will make an appropriate order to settle the case if you the defendant failed to carry out the order,’’ he said.
The plaintiff, Bechina approached the court on count of default by the defendant to pay up rent arrears of two rooms worth the above amount from March 2013 to Oct. 2015.
In his alternative prayer, the plaintiff urged the court to compel the defendant to vacate the property even without paying the arrears of the rent.
On his part, the plaintiff however prayed the court to bar the defendant from throwing him and his family out on the street.
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“ I do not want to leave this house, I promise to pay all my arrears because I want to stay here as long as I can,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chief magistrate adjourned the case till Feb.1 for further hearing (NAN)