Lagos Moves to End Illegal Evictions, Landlord Harassment with Tough New Tenancy Bill – Newstrends
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Lagos Moves to End Illegal Evictions, Landlord Harassment with Tough New Tenancy Bill

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Tenancy Bill and law
Tenancy Bill

Lagos Moves to End Illegal Evictions, Landlord Harassment with Tough New Tenancy Bill

The Lagos State Government has taken decisive steps to curb illegal evictions, landlord harassment, and arbitrary rent hikes with a new legislative proposal titled the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025.

Under the proposed law, landlords will be legally required to obtain a court order before evicting tenants, marking a major shift in landlord-tenant relations in Lagos. The Bill criminalises all forms of forceful eviction, intimidation, and self-help actions, including the use of thugs or threats during rent disputes.

According to the draft legislation, landlords who deliberately cut off electricity, water supply, remove roofs, or take any action that disrupts a tenant’s peaceful occupation of a property risk prosecution. Section 10 of the Bill clearly states that landlords must not interfere with a tenant’s “quiet and peaceable enjoyment” of rented premises.

The Bill introduces stiff penalties for violations. Section 43 provides that any landlord who attempts to eject a tenant without a court order, alters a building to force eviction, threatens or molests a tenant, or damages property commits a criminal offence. Offenders face a minimum fine of ₦1 million, up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.

The proposed law follows growing complaints from residents across Lagos State, where tenants have reported being locked out of homes, having doors broken, or being forcefully chased away during rent disputes.

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Beyond evictions, the Bill also tackles arbitrary rent increases. Section 33 empowers courts to determine whether a rent hike is reasonable by comparing rents in similar locations, reviewing evidence from both parties, and considering special features of the property.

Once a dispute reaches court, tenants receive additional protection. Landlords are barred from evicting tenants while cases relating to rent increase disputes or tenancy matters are pending. Existing tenants may apply for a court order declaring imposed rent increases unreasonable.

To ensure faster justice, the Bill introduces accelerated dispute resolution mechanisms. Sections 20 to 24 allow tenancy cases to be initiated through originating summons, with hearings to be fixed within 14 days. Courts may sit on weekends, public holidays, or conduct virtual hearings, while mediation is capped at 30 days.

The legislation also tightens regulations on service charges and security deposits. Landlords must provide tenants with a detailed account of service charge usage every six months, while security deposits must be refunded unless there is clear evidence of damage to the property.

In addition, Section 7 reinforces tenants’ rights to privacy, peaceful enjoyment, access to shared facilities, and compensation for approved improvements made to rented properties.

If passed into law, the Lagos Tenancy Bill 2025 is expected to significantly reshape the rental housing market in the state, where rent increases of up to 200 per cent have become increasingly common, offering stronger legal protection for tenants and clearer obligations for landlords.

Lagos Moves to End Illegal Evictions, Landlord Harassment with Tough New Tenancy Bill

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Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

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Nigerian TikTok star Peller

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested popular social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, following a viral video showing him driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle during a live-stream.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the arrest comes after public outrage over the dangerous road crash, which occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The police described Peller’s actions as life-threatening, endangering both himself and other road users.

“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained Habeeb Hamzat aka ‘PELLER’ for further investigation, following the viral video in which he was seen driving recklessly, resulting in a dangerous accident while live-streaming,” the statement partly read.

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The incident is now under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with the outcome to be made public. The suspect is expected to face charges in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned social media influencers and members of the public against using online platforms to engage in reckless or unlawful behaviour. “Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, and the full weight of the law will be applied on any offender,” he stated.

The crash has reignited debate over the rising trend of risky stunts by content creators, with many Nigerians calling for stricter enforcement to curb similar incidents.

Authorities continue to emphasize road safety, urging all drivers to comply with traffic regulations and warning that anyone endangering lives on the state’s roads, regardless of social status or online influence, will face prosecution.

This latest incident highlights the urgent need for responsible social media usage, public safety awareness, and stronger law enforcement against dangerous behaviour on Nigerian roads.

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

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Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

LAGOS — Prominent human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, as well as 400 alleged terrorism financiers whose cases were reportedly abandoned under the previous administration.

In his petition, Falana accused former AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, of deliberately shielding the suspects from justice despite “overwhelming evidence.” Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The withdrawal of terrorism charges against these soldiers and the failure to prosecute hundreds of terror financiers amount to a grave abuse of prosecutorial powers and a betrayal of public trust,” Falana said.

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Falana recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an Army Captain ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, after they had arrested notorious kidnapper Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume. Although the soldiers were initially charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was abruptly terminated after Malami entered a nolle prosequi, which Falana described as unconstitutional.

He noted that while the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram—two sentenced to life imprisonment and four jailed for 10 years—Nigerian authorities failed to bring a single financier to justice.

Falana accused Malami of failing to prosecute the 400 suspected terrorism financiers arrested after investigations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Department of State Services (DSS), despite assurances that trials would commence after a judicial workers’ strike.

“The case files of these suspected financiers are reportedly still in the Office of the Attorney-General, while many of the suspects have regained their freedom. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and execute it. The era of impunity must end,” Falana added.

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

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Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

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Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Nigerians may experience power shortages this Yuletide as gas-to-power debt issues disrupt electricity generation across the country.

Gas companies have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, forcing electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce daily power supply.

On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) informed customers across the South-East that low system frequency, caused by gas supply constraints, had necessitated load shedding by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). EEDC subsidiaries affected include MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that poor generation and allocation from generation companies (GenCos) were causing load shedding in its franchise areas.

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The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) confirmed that gas producers had started cutting supply due to outstanding debts owed by the government, despite a recent approval of N185 billion by the Federal Government for payment of arrears to gas suppliers, announced on December 4, 2025, by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) further disclosed that gas pipeline vandalism in the upstream network has worsened the situation, causing reduced output from gas-fired power plants and a decline in national grid generation capacity. Emergency measures, including increased hydroelectric dispatch and voltage control interventions, have been activated to maintain system stability.

With over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants relying on natural gas, the sector remains highly vulnerable to gas supply disruptions, raising fears of sustained power outages during the festive season unless liquidity issues and infrastructure vulnerabilities are urgently addressed.

The current development signals a critical need for government intervention, stakeholder coordination, and investment in gas infrastructure to prevent widespread electricity shortages across Nigeria.

Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

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