Man Charged To Court For Converting A Rented Apartment Into A Commercial Cinema

A Nigerian man was yesterday dragged to court for converting a house he rented into a cinema.

A 34-year-old theatre arts practiotioner Korede Eyitope was brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday for allegedly converting a rented residential apartment to a cinema.

According to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Godwin Awase, the accused committed the offence on April 16 at Meiran, Lagos.

He said that the accused conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by turning the house of Mr. Olaide Ajide to a movie theatre.

“The accused rented a four-bedroom flat, converted it to commercial purpose without the consent of the complainant.”

“The accused altered its structure by demarcating the house and denied other co-tenants into the compound,” the prosecutor said.

The accused reportedly damaged the house in the process of demarcating it to suit his business.

The prosecutor said that the accused also obtained registration by false pretence, using the apartment to register as business with Corporate Affairs Commission.

According to the prosecutor, other tenants alerted the complainant on the activities of the accused, which led to his arrest.

The offences contravened sections 168(d), 327 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Section 327 carries one year jail term for willful procurement of licence, while Section 350 attracts two years for damage.

Eyitope, who resides at Meiran, Lagos, however, pleaded innocence to the charges leveled against him.

Magistrate F.F. George granted the accused N50,000 bail, with two sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned until November 13 for mention.