Delta widow, lawyer bicker over eviction

A widow, Mrs Doris Okolie has accused a lawyer Mr Chinedu Ofodum  of intimidation, oppression and illegal eviction from a house she paid without expiration of her house rent.

Mrs Okolie told South-South Punch on Tuesday that she had written an appeal letter to the Asagba of Asaba HRM Prof Epiphany Azinge to intervene in her oppression.

She said, “With all humility as a resident of Asaba, I wish to bring to the notice of your Majesty the Asagba of Asaba and the general public what my experience has been for the past one year. May it please the majesty to take my plight into due consideration and see reason to intervene.

“My name is Mrs. Doris Okolie a widow from Ute-Ogbeje, in Ika North-East local government of Delta state, and a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

I’m a tenant at No.12 Peter Osadebe Street, Asaba for over two years. In May 2023, I paid the sum of N300,000 and moved into a one room and parlour apartment located at the above mentioned address, under the management of Barr. Chinedu Ofodum and I discovered that there was a leakage in the sewage pipe.

“I notified Barr. Ofodum, but he was unwilling to do anything. I got a plumber to fix it, and I was charged the sum of N25,000. Shortly after fixing it, I discovered the pipe was still leaky, I reinvited the plumber, and was charged additional N35,000.

“After a short period of time, the leakage continued, and I had to spend additional N38,000 for the third time, then I was told by those in the know, that the leakage has been a nightmare to the previous tenants.

On August 9, 2024, Barr Chinedu Ofodum served us rent increment from N300,000 per year, to 400,000 without the repairing the leakage.

“I didn’t object, I paid. In January 2025, he verbally increased the rent again from N400,000 to 500,000,  I also didn’t object, I have equally paid since  May 1, 2025 to expired on April 30, 2026.

“Surprisingly, shortly after the renewal, Ofodum called my son that I was supposed to vacate the apartment, even without a quit notice.

My son notified him that if that is the case, then he should refund the rent to enable us look for another apartment, Ofodum responded that they should be a plus and minus, and whatever is left will be refunded to me.

“I told him I have never been indebted to him, so why plus and minus, but he stood his ground to deduct the money.

“After the argument, Ofodum issued me a seven days’ notice to quit, without which I will be dragged to court even while still holding on to my money.

“Few days ago, he perfected his plan issued me a court summon, claiming I’m a monthly tenant, whereas, my receipt of payment speaks for itself. Can N500, 000 be monthly payment?”

The widow noted that the action of the lawyer is a clear case of humiliation, and intimidation, oppression and engaging in act likely to cause breach of public peace, appealing the monarch and general public to call the renegade to order.

Responding to the allegations, Mr Chinedu Ofodum said that the matter has been charged to court.

“I have charge the matter to court. I served her one month quite notice, after the expiration, I served her seven days’ notice and after the expiration, we filled a claim in the court. The case will be coming up either this month or next”

When asked whether the widow has renewed her rent before serving her quite notice, Ofodum said, “We didn’t tell her to pay any rent, and even if she paid, the notice we served her determined her tenancy.

“I told her that we can do counterbalance, that means deducting the one she live and refund her the balance, she refused, we wouldn’t have gone to this extent of she agreed.

Asked whether the widow is a monthly or yearly tenant, why did she paid N500,000 for the year, the lawyer said it does not matter, that landlord has right to determine tenancy.