It started as a mild altercation
between two men, but in a matter of moments it had degenerated into fisticuffs
that attracted other neighbors. So was the fight between Mr. Olumese and one of
his tenants Mr. Chibike at No. 28, Aromire Street Oworosoki in the city of
Lagos.
Many who waded into the physical combat
between the two grown up men, expressed surprise that a quarrel could have
ensued due to the fact that the family of the men lived In peace before
then ..
It took the intervention of
some elders in the area and a few strong youths
before the duo could be separated.
According to one of the
peace maker Mr. Adeleke “it was not everyday one sees a Landlord fighting with his tenant”
An electricity consumption
bill from P.H.C.N and the subsequent
sharing of the bill among the tenants was the cause of the quarrel between the
Landlord and his tenant.
In his account of the
fight, Mr. Olumese, noted that the tenant, Mr. Chibike had refused to pay his
own share of the bill, but had instead resorted to illogical arguments on why he would not pay the amount that
was said to be his bill.
The energetic tenant Mr.
Chibike was equally vociferous in his accusations against his Landlord Mr.
Olumese.
He pointed out that his decision that he see the bill before paying had led to
the conflict. “he blatantly refused to let me see the bill. Ever since I came
to this house I have never seen the bill. I am just made to pay amounts that I
cannot verity. This time around I made up my mind I would not pay until I saw
the bil with my naked eyes. Instead of him allowing me to see the bill, he
threatened to eject me. This is what led to the fight”.
Investigations revealed
that some Landlords have carved an unenviable toga for hiding under the guise
of collecting money to pay P.H.C.N bills to defraud their tenants. In most
cases, these Landlords bluntly refused to allow their tenants see the bills,
but instead share the bill in a formula only known to them. In some of these
buildings the Landlord have avoided any request for a pre-paid meter by the tenants.
However, this reporter Spoke to some
Landlords and Tenants, and they all complained that the costs of procuring electrical
meters was frustrating. Apart
from being expensive to install, even those that have the money to buy it,
cannot get it at the designated places of purchase. According to one of the
staff of P.H.C.N who does not want his name in print pre-paid meters was still available for interested members of the
public but they cannot force people to
get them .
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