Two brothers, Felix Agwu-Oko and Chijioke Ogbonnaya are currently at war over a piece of property at 26 Anupupo Street, Oke-Ira, Ogba, Lagos State.
The three-year struggle has resulted in a criminal charge against the elder brother, Agwu-Oko at the Ikeja Magistrate Court.
Agwu-Oko was accused by the police at Area G command of assaulting his brother and threatening his life.
Punch Metro learnt that the land, allegedly acquired by Ogbonnaya, was hastily developed in 2010 when Agwu-Oko was evicted from his rented apartment after defaulting in paying his rent.
It was said Ogbonnaya, who was residing in a rented apartment at Magodo-Isheri, allegedly moved his elder brother into the apartment following his eviction.
Trouble, however, started after Ogbonnaya completed another apartment within the same property and moved there in December 2010.
It was learnt that Agwu-Oko claimed that the property belonged to him and Ogbonnaya.
Several entreaties from extended family members to broker peace between both siblings were rejected.
Agwu-Oko allegedly insisted that the property was a result of joint financial effort by both brothers.
It was said after some people assaulted Ogbonnaya, causing him to break a bone in his foot, he moved out of the property in 2012 and rented a new apartment.
He subsequently reported Agwu-Oko to the police, which eventually arrested him following a formal complaint from Ogbonnaya’s lawyer, Mr. Oyewole-Freeman
PUNCH Metro gathered that after several efforts by the police at Area G command to resolve the issue they described as family matter failed, Agwu-Oko was arraigned in July 2012 on a two-count charge of assault and threat to life at Court 8, Ikeja Magistrate Court, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the last hearing on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr. Romanus Unuigbe, told the court that an uncle to both siblings had met with him and had expressed the wish of the extended family to have Agwu-Oko ejected from the property.
Although Agwu-Oko was in court, his lawyer was not present. The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Sule Hamzat, asked the defendant to state the cause of the disaffection between him and Ogbonnaya.
Agwu-Oko said, “Ogbonnaya encouraged our younger sister to bring her boyfriend to the family house. There was no way I could have allowed my sister and her boyfriend to carry on in the house. That has been the cause of the disagreement between us.”
Urging Agwu-Oko to be truthful, Hamzat said, “If I find out you are lying, it is either I have you jailed or this case would be transferred to the Ikeja High Court. Why did you describe the property as a family house?”
Agwu-Oko replied, “Because I pooled resources with Ogbonnaya to build the house.”
Hamzat ordered both parties to show up in court at the next adjourned date with both their lawyers and their family members.
She adjourned the case until March 14, 2013.
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