Woman claims landlord took off her apartment roof

A video shared on Facebook has sparked mixed reactions. A woman says her landlord took off the roof of her apartment, leaving her belongings open to rain.

The video, posted on Monday by Esther Victor, shows rainwater dripping from the ceiling into a room. Clothes and other household items are soaked. Water covers parts of the tiled floor. The room is painted orange with a PVC ceiling and a ceiling fan.

Tenant says landlord removed roof

In the video, the woman blames her landlord for removing the roof after her rent expired.

"Look at what my landlord has done. My rent expired on 6 April, but he removed the roof of the house, and the rain has soaked everything inside. Water is all over the room. Can you see what he has done?" she said.

She added that she asked the landlord to let her pay for only six months because she did not want to stay in the apartment for a full year.

"I was getting ready to go to church when this happened. Now I am rushing to move my belongings so the rain does not damage them. What if I was not at home? The rain would have destroyed everything I own.

"The rain is very heavy, and the room is already flooded with water. Just look at what the landlord has done."

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Ms Victor said she is a widow and mother of four. She claims her landlord took advantage of her situation.

She mentioned that the house is a bedroom flat located along Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

"My landlord did what he did because he knew I don’t have a husband to speak for me," she said, adding that she has moved in with someone else.

When contacted, Mr Asuquo listened as our reporter introduced himself. But he ended the call quickly after being asked to comment on the claims against him by his tenant.

Social media reactions mixed

The video brought different reactions from Facebook users. "Sue him and claim damages; this is a good case," Precious Peter commented.

But Nsikak Anwana questioned the claim: "All of you saying she should go to court. Do you have proof that the roof was removed by the landlord? What if the landlord said the roof was removed by the heavy wind?"

Others felt there might be more to the story. "U will not tell us the full story," Anthony Boniface wrote.

Disputes between landlords and tenants are common in Nigeria. They often relate to rent issues, lease renewals, and evictions. Nigerian tenancy laws require landlords to follow proper procedures when trying to take back their property. They cannot use force or destroy property.

Removing roof to evict tenant is illegal, Lawyer

A lawyer, Ekemini Udim, said the landlord could face civil and criminal charges if the claims are true. He referenced the Rent Control and Recovery of Premises Law of Akwa Ibom State, Cap. 127, 2022.

"The landlord’s action can lead to both civil and criminal responsibilities," Mr Udim said. He explained that a tenant can seek damages in court for losses from the landlord’s actions.

He stated that the law does not allow landlords to use self-help methods to reclaim their property.

"Self-help such as tipping sand at the entrance, double-locking the door from outside, removing the roof, etc. These actions are illegal. It does not matter that the house is yours," he said.

Mr Udim added that if a tenant fails to meet their obligations, the law says landlords must give proper notices and get a court order before taking back their property.

"The law is very serious about landlords who remove roofs or take any forceful measures to evict tenants," he said.