Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactical Team (SWAT) of the Nigeria Police, have arrested an 81-year-old landlord in Badore area of Ajah, Lagos, Noah Owolola for alleged illegal entry into another man’s property.

Owolola was accused of unlawful entry into a property belonging to one Alhaji Opeyemi Abodurin to remove the roofing on his building.

Police alleged that the defendant also maliciously demolished the complainant’s building and stole his properties valued at about N3,815,000

Police further alleged that following the development, the complainant petitioned the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of SWAT operations, Lagos, Stephen Ogedengbe who gave a marching order to the Commander in charge of operations at SWAT, Lagos, Ibrahim Yusuf to fish out the suspect.

The suspect was subsequently traced and arrested by the police.

Owolola was charged before the Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Island on a four-count charge bordering on unlawful entry into a property to remove building roofing sheets, malicious damage and stealing of properties valued at about N3,815,000.

Police Counsel, Abraham Fadipe told the court in the charge marked R/25/2022 that the defendant committed the offence between November and 31 December 2021 at Owolola compound, Badore, Ajah, Lagos.

Fadipe informed the court that the defendant unlawfully entered the property belonging to the complainant, Alhaji Opeyemi Abodurin to remove the roofing sheets of his building maliciously, demolished the building without authority and also stole properties valued at about N3,815,000.

He said the offences the defendant committed were punishable under sessions 411, 340, 56(1) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mrs K.K Awoyinka granted him N300,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Awoyinka directed that the sureties must show proof of three years of tax payment to the Lagos State government and must deposit N500,000 in the court’s account.

Awoyinka adjourned the case till 8 July, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till he perfected the bail conditions.