Osun Commissioner Dragged To Court For Owing Lagos Apartment Rent

Mr. Stephen Kola Balogun

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has awarded N10,000 cost against Osun State commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Mr. Stephen Kola Balogun, for failing to open his defence in the suit against him over alleged refusal to pay his rent and arrears of a rented apartment in Lagos.

The commissioner and his wife were sued by Justice Adeniyi Adetokunbo Ademola, a judge of the Federal High Court over their alleged refusal to pay for the rent of a property located at No. 51C, Oduduwa Crescent in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, Ikeja.
Trial judge in the matter, Justice O.A. Adefope Okojie has, meanwhile adjourned till November 30, 2013 for the defence to open its case, after the claimant had concluded his case against the Commissioner and his wife.
At the last hearing in the matter,  the Commissioner failed to open his defence, but wrote a letter to the court asking for an adjournment.
Kola Balogun said the request for adjournment was on the ground that he was billed to attend the Osun State Executive Council meeting on the day of the trial.
Not happy by the development, the claimant’s lawyer, Mrs. Deola Saba lamented that the matter had suffered series of adjournments at the instance of the defendants.