Fresh details have emerged on the landlord-tenant relationship between Ofoedu Francis Chikeluba and the late Pastor Bolaji Olukotun, whose death has been linked by his counsel to events arising from a disputed tenancy, failed rent-to-own arrangement, and alleged forceful eviction from a property in Lekki, Lagos State.
In a narrative dated July 16, 2026, Barrister Akpobome Deniran, Principal Counsel, traced the relationship between the landlord and the deceased tenant from the inception of the tenancy in February 2025 to the later introduction of Blessing Idono as agent for the sale of the property.
According to the narrative, Pastor Bolaji entered into a tenancy agreement with Ofoedu Francis Chikeluba sometime in February 2025 in respect of a fully furnished five-bedroom duplex with Boys’ Quarters, known as House B11, Admiralty Homes Estate, off Alpha Beach Road, Lekki, Lagos.
The tenancy was for one year, commencing on February 8, 2025, and expiring on February 7, 2026, at an annual rent of N7 million.
Deniran said the tenancy was founded on an express understanding that Pastor Bolaji intended to purchase the property before the expiration of the one-year term.
According to him, the arrangement was not merely an ordinary tenancy but a pathway to homeownership, as the landlord allegedly offered the deceased tenant the opportunity to eventually buy the property.
At the expiration of the tenancy in February 2026, Pastor Bolaji reportedly approached the landlord for an extension of time to enable him raise the purchase money, explaining that he was awaiting funds from a third party.
The landlord, according to the narrative, initially granted the request and offered to accept part payment of N70 million out of the total purchase sum of about N140 million, excluding the furniture in the house.
Deniran said this showed that the landlord was initially willing to accommodate the deceased tenant’s financial situation and allow the sale to be completed.
However, when the purchase sum was still not paid by the end of February and early March 2026, the landlord allegedly became impatient and withdrew the offer to sell the property to Pastor Bolaji.
The landlord was said to have also informed the deceased tenant that he was no longer inclined to renew the rent and that he needed the property for his personal use.
Following this development, the landlord’s lawyer, identified as Barrister Amadi, reportedly issued a One Month Notice to Quit dated March 31, 2026, to Pastor Bolaji, thereby formally placing him on notice to vacate the property.
The narrative stated that negotiations were later revived in May 2026, after Barrister Amadi was personally appealed to on behalf of Pastor Bolaji by Barrister Deniran.
According to Deniran, the appeal caused the landlord to reconsider his earlier position and agree to a new one-year term at an increased rent of N8.5 million, compared to the previous rent of N7 million.
The parties were said to have reached an understanding that Pastor Bolaji would pay N7.5 million on or before the end of May 2026, while the balance of N1 million would be paid in early June 2026.
But when Pastor Bolaji allegedly failed to make the first payment of N7.5 million on the due date, the landlord withdrew the offer and stated that he was no longer interested in entering into a new tenancy with him.
Barrister Amadi was said to have followed up by serving a Seven-Day Notice of Owner’s Intention to Recover Possession on Pastor Bolaji, putting him on notice that the landlord intended to recover the property and may commence legal proceedings if he failed to vacate.
Deniran further stated that, in furtherance of the landlord’s intention to recover possession and sell the property, Barrister Amadi sent another letter dated June 15, 2026, to Pastor Bolaji.
According to the narrative, the letter informed Pastor Bolaji that the property had been placed on the market for sale and that Blessing Idono, who reportedly lived opposite him, had been appointed as the principal agent responsible for marketing the property.
The letter allegedly provided Idono’s phone number and directed that prospective buyers should be granted access to inspect the property upon adequate notice.
Deniran also said a banner advertising the property for sale was placed on the gate of the property, displaying the phone numbers of Blessing Idono and another agent identified as Ibrahim Mark.
The same letter was also said to have contained a further Seven-Day Notice to Deliver Vacant Possession, reiterating the landlord’s demand that Pastor Bolaji vacate the property.
According to Deniran, the June 15 letter marked the first formal introduction of Blessing Idono into the matter.
He said from that point, the landlord had effectively outsourced the sale and possession of the property to Idono and her network of prospective buyers.
Deniran noted that the relationship between the parties was shaped by several factors, including the original rent-to-own understanding, the landlord’s alleged impatience after the purchase money was not paid, the repeated notices to quit and recover possession, and the decision to market the property while the deceased tenant was still in occupation.
He argued that although Pastor Bolaji had not vacated the property after the notices, he remained a tenant holding over and was still entitled to be dealt with according to law.
According to him, the marketing of the property while Pastor Bolaji remained in possession exposed him to prospective buyers who might be aggressive in seeking possession.
On the role of Blessing Idono, Deniran stated that she was appointed as the principal agent to bring prospective buyers to inspect the property.
He said because Idono lived opposite the deceased tenant, she was well-positioned to facilitate inspections and monitor his compliance with the landlord’s notices.
The counsel further alleged that this set the stage for the events of July 5, 2026, when Blessing Idono allegedly brought one Mr. Smith, also known as Murphy, a prospective buyer, to inspect the property.
Deniran claimed that threats of forceful eviction began after that visit.
He concluded that the relationship between the landlord and the deceased tenant began as a friendly rent-to-own arrangement but later deteriorated into failed negotiations, notices to quit, active marketing of the property and the introduction of an agent whose actions, according to him, became central to the events that followed.
The counsel maintained that the narrative was essential to understanding the chain of events that allegedly culminated in the unlawful, brutal and forcible eviction of Pastor Bolaji Olukotun on Saturday, July 11, 2026, and his subsequent death on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and all persons mentioned are presumed innocent unless otherwise established by due process.
The post “Pastor Bolaji’s Counsel Links Death To Failed Rent-To-Own Dispute” — Alleges Landlord’s Agent, Prospective Buyer Triggered Forceful Eviction Crisis appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
