The recent history of the property located at 25 Warake Road in Auchi, Edo State, has become a legal and relationship headache between Timothy Sule and Yakubu Inu-Umoru. This five-bedroom duplex, which was rented out in 2020, witnessed a series of tense and conflicting events.
Timothy Sule, a renowned figure in the fields of psychology and business residing in the United States, has opted to assert his rights through legal channels. The dispute between Sule and Inu-Umoru stemmed from a rental agreement stipulating that Inu-Umoru would carry out renovation work on the property in exchange for a significant reduction in rent.
Trouble ensued when Sule accused Inu-Umoru of violating the agreement and took it upon himself to undertake the renovations. Furthermore, a notice of non-renewal of the lease was served to Inu-Umoru, leading to his dissatisfaction with Sule’s decision to personally oversee the renovation work.
An enraged Inu-Umoru allegedly made threats of property damage upon the expiration of the lease, feeling unjustly evicted. Sule later reported actual damages incurred, including a damaged fence, deteriorated interlocking paving stones, a damaged septic tank, faulty electrical wiring, and other harm inflicted on the building.
Tensions escalated as Inu-Umoru demanded three million Naira in compensation for purported improvements made to the property. In a letter dated March 6, 2024, titled “Dispute regarding rental agreement between Mr. Timothy A. Sule and Mr. Yakubu Inu-Umoru” and signed by S. K. Mokidi, this financial claim was made.
In response, Timothy Sule alerted the United States Embassy in Nigeria about threats directed at him and his property. He urged the Nigerian judicial system to take decisive action against individuals like Inu-Umoru, emphasizing the principles of law and order practiced in the United States.
While the outcome of this conflict remains uncertain, it underscores the challenges faced by both landlords and tenants in rental agreements. It also raises critical questions about conflict resolution and adherence to established agreements. Effective communication and diligent management of rental relationships are vital to prevent such disputes from arising.