A land and house agent, Mukaila Salau, has absconded with a tenant’s rent (part payment) after renting the same apartment to two different persons in Jakande Estate, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
One of the victims of Salau’s scam, Adegoke, said he was homeless for months as a result of the fraud.
“A colleague told me he would leave his apartment for Ilorin. He then suggested that I moved in instead of paying for a new apartment,” he said.
“I agreed because I thought I would not pay agreement and commission charges. But when I met the agent, he insisted I paid all charges,” Adegoke said.
Adegoke paid the agent N250,000 rent on December 5, 2020, and N10,000 for an item in the apartment. However, when he decided to visit the apartment a few days later, he met a tenant already living in the apartment.
“I asked the developer why another person had moved into the room. But he frustrated my efforts with his ‘intelligent’ lies,” Adegoke lamented.
“He would always lie when I asked him certain questions. He even told me the new occupant would leave the house at the end of the month, but till now she still there.”
When Salau noticed that his lies could no longer appease Adegoke, he refunded N190,000 to him in January 2021. Adegoke on the other hand continued to pester him for his remaining balance but has gotten nothing.
“He has over four wives. He avoided the house I know of so I wouldn’t get him. The new occupant later gave me N30,000, in March, for some items I had put in the house. Since then, I have been chasing Salau with calls for my balance of N40,000,” he said.
“I suffered the consequences of Salau’s actions. I squatted for months because I had no house. I could not even account for how I spent the N190,000 he refunded. This man has made my life so miserable.”
Due to the heat of the allegation, Salau was contacted and, he admitted to owing Adegoke N40,000. He said he had always had him in mind but could not pay, as his finances were crumbling.
“Before the month ends, I will pay him his N40,000. Even if it means paying him N20,000 twice, I will pay. I promise, ” he said.
