Landlord Jailed For Breaking Tenant’s Window

A Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court in the FCT on Monday sentenced a landlord, Kwanben Goma, 69, to three months imprisonment for breaking the window of his tenant’s room and assaulting her. Goma was earlier charged with joint act, criminal force, assault, mischief and theft. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Pascal Njoku, told the court that Goma and another person currently at large broke the window of his tenant, Fumilayo Obafemi, on Sept. 7 and stole N50,000. “When she asked him why he broke her window, he physically assaulted her,’’ the prosecutor said. Njoku added that the offence contravened sections 97, 262, 326and 246 of the Penal Code. At the mention of the case in September, Goma pleaded not guilty and was granted bail. However, during the judgment trial on Dec. 24, Goma said “the woman is still owing me house rent from January 2012 to October 2012. “All the accusations are false, I did not do them, all I want is for her to swear that I did it. “I will also swear that I did not dothe things I am accused of.’’ The Magistrate, Mr Lateef Bolaji, however said that Goma did not convince the court that he did not commit the offence. He said: “the testimony of the first defence witness completely contradicted that of the second defence witness. “When given the opportunity to examine the nominal complainantand to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, the accused refused to explore it. “I, therefore, find the accused guilty as charged.’’ He sentenced him to one month imprisonment with an option of N4,000 fine. Bolaji also ordered that Goma should pay N50,000 compensation to Obafemi.