Delta: Estate agent absconds with tenant’s N750, 000

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

In estate agent, Patrick Okoli, who allegedly collected the sum of N750, 000 rent from a tenant and failed to remit it to the landlord has disappeared into thin air in Asaba, Delta State.

Reports said that the estate agent, recently moved into Asaba from Onitsha, where he had been operating in dubious manner until the recent bubble burst.

It was reliably gathered that the tenant while seeking for a three bedroom flat around Ogbeke square Asaba, entered into agreement with the estate agent who claimed to have been in the business close to 20 years with no blemish.

But the agreement, as it were, after payment of the N750, 000 backfired when the property agent who was well known in the area with his sign post “estate agent here”, last Monday, allegedly disappeared with the money.

While the tenant was instructed to move into the house, his attempt to bring in the belongings met a brisk wall, during which the landlord of the house, Ogbueshi Albert Chukwudi refused to let him move into the house, saying he had not received any money from the agent.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed that the police is investigating the matter, with a view to tracking down the fleeing agent.

DSP Kalu, disclosed that some agents in the last few weeks have been arrested for similar offences and warned members of the public, especially those looking for accommodation to be wary of whom they part their money with.

Speaking to our correspondent, the tenant, Mrs. Victory Otoide Beatrice said, “I mistakenly gave the N750, 000 to the agent for the repairs and payment of the house rent for one year, adding that upon which a receipt was issued to her and in the attempt to move in, met a brick wall when the owner of the house said he had not seen the agent or collected any money from him.