OYO COURT REMANDS TENANT IN PRISON FOR SETTING LANDLORD’S HOUSE ABLAZE
A 35-year-old tenant, Dickson Peter, found himself in custody following accusations of setting his landlord’s house on fire, as presented before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.
Charged with two counts of felony and arson by the police, Peter appeared before Magistrate M. Mudashiru on Thursday.
However, due to jurisdictional constraints, the magistrate refrained from accepting Peter’s plea and ordered his remand at the Abolongo Correctional Facility in Oyo Town.
Pending legal guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the case was adjourned until July 23 for further proceedings.
Prosecution Counsel Insp Femi Oluwadare alleged that Peter unlawfully set fire to his landlord’s house, Cepas Okeme, on April 18 at 12:30am, destroying properties worth N6.5 million.
The fire also spread to the adjacent property belonging to Bose Ali, causing an additional N3.5 million in damages.
Oluwadare stated that the offences contravene Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.