One Mr. Emmanuel Joseph, 50, of Kabayi Village, Mararaba, has sued one Blessing Edward, 45, before a Mararaba Chief Magistrates’ court for allegedly failing to settle her eight months’ rent.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Joseph Abonyi, told the court that the annual rent payable for the defendant’s one room-self-contained apartment was N70, 000.
Abonyi said that the last time the defendant paid rent for her apartment was on Feb. 29, 2013 and that the payment covered only a period of six months.
He alleged that the defendant’s rent expired in September, 2013, and had since refused to renew her rent.
He said that the rent owed amounted to N46, 664 and prayed the court to assist him to recover the rent and the property from the defendant.
According to the Abonyi, his client had so far spent N20, 000 as legal cost for the case and urged the court to recover the cost from the defendant.
Abonyi tendered the receipt of six months’ rent, which the plaintiff issued to the defendant the first time she paid the house rent in 2013 as evidence in court.
Edward, a contractor of the same address as the complainant, who represented herself in the court however denied the allegations.
She told court that she paid for a year and six months when she entered the house.
Edward said that she was surprised when she came to court and saw only six months receipt tendered by the plaintiff as her only payment.
In his cross-examination, Abonyi asked the defendant for the number of payment receipts she had received from the plaintiff since she started living in his house.
The defendant told him, she was given only one receipt of six months’ rent by the plaintiff.
Edward told court that she did not collect the receipt for the one year rent she paid to the plaintiff because of their cordial relationship.
Abonyi, upon completing his cross-examination, asked the court for a new hearing date to allow him to prove his case against the defendant.
The presiding officer, Mr Habila Abundaga, then adjourned hearing in the matter until July 21. (NAN)
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