Some Abuja tenants may have fallen into bad times as many are now unable to pay their rents.
Investigation by THE WHISTLER in some Magistrate courts around the Federal Capital Territory shows that over 60% of cases brought to the court were tenancy-related.
This is the case at the Magistrate court in Dutse, Bwari Local Government Area, Abuja where over 21 cars belonging to tenants were confiscated by the court for auction.
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Our correspondent observed about 23 cars (of various types including Peugeot, Kia, Pathfinder, Van, Mercedes Benz) covered in dust and some with flat tyre littered within the court premises.
About 6 Air Conditioners, 18 Refrigerators, 4 Generators, 2 Gas Cookers; 8 Set of Sitting Room Chairs, 7 Television Stand were also spotted at the left side of the court close to the main entrance, adjacent to the security post.
A senior court official in the Central Registry of the court (who chose not to be named) confirmed to THE WHISTLER that all the vehicles and properties belong to tenants who were convicted by the court and could not meet the terms of their conviction.
On Wednesday, the court also heard a case between a landlord and his tenant where he (the landlord) complained that his tenant was owing him rent from July 15 2021 to September 15 2021.
The matter was adjourned to February 10 for continuation of hearing.
According to the official, when a judge gives judgment in tenancy matters, the plaintiff counsel will file for enforcement of the verdict.
When that is done, the file will be taken to the court headquarters around Maitama, FCT.
He said that if defendants are not able to pay the plaintiff in line with the court’s judgment, the plaintiff’s lawyer will attach anything that belongs to him or her so that it can be sold to recover the money.
“Once the file gets there, it is now out of Magistrate court Dutse; so the plaintiff counsel will now be dealing with enforcement unit in the court in Maitama.
“In the enforcement unit, there is a mobilization fee the plaintiff has to pay.
“When they are going for enforcement, they can’t go alone, they have to go with the police.
“Whether the person (tenant) is around, fine; if he is not around, they will burgle the house and carry what they find,” he said.
The registry official also explained the process of confiscation, adding that auctioneers are brought to value the properties recovered after which, it will be pasted in a strategic place in the court for auction.
Purchase will go to the highest bidder.
“Now, the auction department in the court headquarters in Maitama will come here for evaluation and value those properties.
“Meanwhile, it is not immediately they bring those properties that they are sold; they will give time; auctioneers will now come and value it and take the price to headquarters.
“From there, they will list those items with the suit number of the property and paste it where people will see it with the tag ‘Public Auction”.
“It will be sold to the highest bidder, just like they do bazaar in church,” the official said.