How Tenant’s Fiancée Burnt My House, Property Worth N47m, Landlord Tells Court

A 59-year-old civil servant, Josiah Olowofeso, told an Upper Area Court, Kubwa, on Friday how his tenant, James Otaru’s fiancée, identified as Kemi Kusimo, burned his house and other property worth N47 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had charged Otaru and Kusimo with criminal conspiracy and mischief by fire, to which they, however, pleaded not guilty.

Olowofeso made the allegation while being led in evidence by the Prosecution Counsel, Babajide Olanipekun.

“While I was in church on Jan. 15, I got a message that my house at Maryson Street, Byazhin, Kubwa, had been ablaze.

“By the time I got to the house, I discovered that the roof was not there again, while some Nigerian Fire Service personnel had been there trying to put out the fire.

“A photographer was invited and pictures of the scene were taken and printed.

“Some of my tenants told me that there was a misunderstanding between the defendants and that Kusimo threatened to burn down the house but that they cautioned her against doing so, as they would all lose their property.

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“Before they knew what was happening, Kusimo had set the house ablaze and locked herself in,” he said.

Olowofeso further stated that policemen from Byazhin Station later arrested Kusimo, while Otaru apologised to him, saying it was the work of the devil.

The complainant said that the estimated loss of his property and those of the tenants was about N47 million, saying that Kusimo said she only had N800,000.

The Judge, Mohammed Wakili, however, adjourned the matter till February 15 for the continuation of the hearing.