Lagos High Court Refunds Woman’s N225,000 after Saturday Punch’s report
Relief has finally come the way of Mrs. Olanike Okome, a retiree, whose N225,000 was withheld for 11 years by the Lagos State High Court.
Okome, who is the landlady of a residential building in the Surulere area of Lagos, had in August 2018 visited Punch headquarters to complain about how the court withheld her rent, which was paid by one of her tenants into its account.
She pointed out that in spite of the judgement of the court, which ruled in her favour and consequently directed that the money should be released to her, the money was withheld for 11 years, despite all her visits, letters and pleas to the court registry.
But few months after Saturday Punch published her story on September 8, 2018, the court registry, which she had paraded for years, went into action and ensured that the woman was paid her money. According to her, the money was paid back to her on January 3, 2019.
“The court has finally refunded my money,” she told our correspondent on the phone.
She had explained when she visited Punch that one of her tenants, who occupied her four-bedroomed bungalow in Surulere, did not pay her rent and had to be dragged to court in 2005.
Click: www.nba-slp.org to register
As evidenced by a copy of the court judgement, dated Monday, December 17, 2007 and signed by Mr. J. A. Fadipe, the presiding judge, Justice A. M. Nicol-Clay, of Court 24, General Civil Division, Igbosere, ruled in her favour and ordered that the money paid by the tenant to the court be released to her.
“That the Chief Registrar of Lagos High Court is hereby ordered to release to Mrs. Nike Okome (the landlady/respondent) the sum of N225,000 only,” the copy of the judgement partly read.
Although the N225,000 had been released to Okome after Saturday Punch’s report, the woman is asking the court to pay a 25 per cent interest rate on it for the 11 years the money was held.
In a letter to the Chief Registrar, titled, ‘Re: Suit No LD/12A/2007: Mrs. Stella Akinbode vs Nike Okome: Application for refund/release of the sum of N225,000 plus interest at the rate of 25 per cent per annum by the office of the Chief Registrar of High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja,’ Okome requested that the interest should be reviewed.
She said, “The interest paid is not commensurate and I believe you would use your good offices to take another look at the matter and do a review in the interest of justice and fair play as being propagated by your office.
“The total interest anticipated at 25 per cent interest rate per annum is put at N3,421,841 (compound interest on principal sum for 11 years and four months).
“I am also at this point stressing the need for damages of N1,710,770. We were supposed to sit together on January 3, 2019 but there was no room for any dialogue.
“With this letter, it is my belief that you would use your good offices to call a meeting for the resolution of the issues raised.”
She, however, threatened legal action against the court if nothing was done with regard to her complaints.
Newswire, we present the world of law and the issues that engage them. This edition is yet again, ‘Mind-blowing’. Go get your copy(ies) Now!
Do you need to be heard? Or your articles published? Send your views, messages, articles or press release to: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk >>> We can cover your (LAW) events at the first Call: 08039218044, 08024004726
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, A man of wide horizons and deep intentions". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
