A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered former Anambra State Governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo, to vacate a mansion he lives in the highbrow Maitama District, Abuja, over unpaid rent.
Justice S. B. Belgore gave the order upon finding that Nwobodo had defaulted in paying rent and refused to relinquish possession of the property at the expiration of his tenancy. The judge also ordered the ex-governor to relinquish the property to the owner, Adin-Miles International Limited.
The property, a six bedroom mansion with one bedroom guest chalet and two rooms’ boys quarters, is located at 24 Ona Crescent, Plot 768 Cadastral Zone A5, Maitama Abuja.
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When Jim Nwobodo refused to pay his rent, the landlord hired a lawyer, Obinna Ajoku, to evict him from
the building. When all overtures to Nwobodo failed, Ajoku filed a case against him at the Abuja High Court.
Adin Miles claimed four reliefs against Nwobodo, including that he should deliver vacant possession of the property, that he be ordered to pay N11 million as rent arrears and an order for Jim Nwobodo to renovate the premises or pay N3 million only to enable the plaintiff renovate the premises.
Nwobodo later filed a counter claim, arguing that while the property was offered for sale, he expressed intention to buy it, but did not make any payment because the plaintiff allegedly induced his landlord to sell the property to it and consequently, the landlord sold the house to the plaintiff.
Justice Belgore, in a judgment he delivered on March 3, a copy of which was obtained by their correspondent on Wednesday, granted all the plaintiff’s reliefs. The judge ordered Nwobodo to pay N11 million as arrears of the rent on the premises from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2011.
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