Widow Sues FRSC over nonpayment of N10m House Rent

A widow landlady in the Durumi District of Abuja has sued the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for defaulting in agreement to pay her outstanding rent totaling N10million.

An Abuja fearless Solicitor, social justice and Human Right Crusader, Casmir C. Igwe Esq., of Igwe & Igwe Attorneys (Legal Practitioners & Notaries Public) who is counsel to the widow filed a writ of summons under the undefended list procedure. The case has been assigned to FCT High Court No. 22, sitting in Apo.

He stated that the FRSC who took the 4 N0s 3-bedroom flats property of her client as their staff quarter/ Guest House since 2013 at an annual rent of N7, 800, 000 and vacated the property without paying their arrears of rent as well as other debts owed his client including the renovation costs accessed at N2, 500, 000 only by the FRSC Estate Surveyors and Valuers since 2016 as demanded which the Corps refused and/or neglected to pay despite several Appeals and interventions.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to prevail on FRSC to pay the said amount.

The counsel told the court that FRSC wrote a letter dated 15 August 2016 with reference no. FRSC/HQ/CLOG/196/VOL.1/05 of the Corps’ intention to discontinue their tenancy upon its expiration on November 10, 2016.

He said, his client replied the letter on October 31, 2016 and received by FRSC on 7/11/16 accepting the intention of the Corps not to renew rent and the termination of the contract with the Corps on the property located at Zone B2, Durumi District, Abuja-FCT and consequently, demanded that FRSC hands over the keys of the property immediately upon expiration on the 10th day of November 2016.

Counsel Igwe said, his client wrote another letter dated April 26, 2017, upon the Corps refusal and neglect to pay and hand over the property since the termination of the contract from the 10th day of

November 2016, and demanded for the payment for the arrears of rent and renovation which are still unpaid till date not minding the Widow’s plight.

Consequently, he said, the plaintiff claims against the defendant as follows: an Order for immediate payment of the Sum of N8, 500, 000 (Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) by the defendant to the plaintiff being outstanding money owed the plaintiff by the defendant for the use and occupation of the plaintiff’s property at Zone B2, Durumi, Abuja from 10th day of November 2016 till 10th day of September 2017.

Also for the payment of N600, 000 monthly pro rata from the 10th of September 2017 till the judgment.  And 21% interest on the judgment sum from the date of final judgment until the judgment debt is finally liquidated by the defendant.

The case was however adjourned by Hon. Justice S. B Belgore from November 20th, 2017 to January 18th, 2018 for hearing