A couple, Benjamin and Felicia Ubakaeze, have dragged their landlord before an Idemili High Court sitting at Oba, in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, over a quit notice served on them.
Since 2014, both husband and wife have been operating a provision store and an eatery on the premises owned by the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, a facility under the control of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion.
They were served a quit notice by their landlord, who claimed he needed the place for an expansion project for the hospital.
Benjamin said the notice was a breach of his tenancy agreement, adding that he spent millions of naira to transform the structures.
He claimed he had a 30-year lease agreement with the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital Management, which started running from 2014 and therefore, their tenancy agreement at the facility expires in 2044.
Apart from rejecting all the quit notices issued to him by the facility management, the Registered Trustees of the Diocese on the Niger, the couple vowed not to vacate the premises until they are paid N36 million by the trustee and the management of the hospital, as money they used in developing the facility over time.
He said, “This place used to be a dumpsite with rubbles and debris until we transformed it, which cost us huge sums of money. There is a 30-year lease agreement with the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital management, which started running in 2014 and therefore, my tenancy at the facility expires in 2044.”
When Benjamin mounted the witness box on Friday, his lawyer, Chief Obiwenite Obimuanya, tendered some documents to back up his claims.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nri Ezedi, adjourned the case till February 23, 24 and March 8, 2022 for continuation of hearing.
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