When Martha Benson paid N120,000 on May 1, 2022, to a property agent she knew only as Ahmed, she believed she was renting an apartment in the Fadeyi area of Lagos State for one year.

In July, she moved in and was to renew her rent 12 months after. What she did not foresee was her landlord selling the property and the new owners forcing her and other tenants to vacate the premises in January.

On Friday, Benson told FIJ she learnt in December 2022 that Taiwo Kuti, her landlord, had sold the property and the tenants had no access to the new owner.

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She also said thugs soon came to threaten residents to pack out immediately.

“We got the information about the sale of the house from outsiders,” Benson told fIJ, “only for us to confront Kuti and he said he was yet to officially inform us.

“We have reported the matter to the police, but nothing has been done. Kuti was living with us in the compound before, but now he has moved his belongings and vacated the building.

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“The last time I saw him was in December. We only chat with him on WhatsApp.”

When FIJ called Kuti, he confirmed the sale of the property at No 20, New Balogun street, Fadeyi, Lagos.

Kuti said, “They know I sold the property. Nobody can chase them out; we told the new owners that their rents have not expired.”

Kuti, however, failed to provide details on the identity of the property’s new owner.

Benson and other tenants said they did not know who their new landlord was, but they continued to receive threats of possible demolition.