The Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) in Ojokoro-Ijaiye area of the State has successfully interceded on behalf of a family locked out of their apartment for 18 days by an aggrieved landlord over non-payment of house rent.

Speaking on the incident, the Director of CMC, Mrs. Biola Oseni, said the family was denied access to their apartment and rendered homeless after the landlord allegedly seized their belongings and sent them packing over their inability to meet up with the rent payment due to the economic hardship imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the family had reported the matter at the Meiran Police Station but efforts by the Police to pacify the landlord proved abortive as he refused to honour Police invitations on several occasions, which led the victims seeking assistance from the CMC.

The Director averred that the quick intervention of Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) finally brought succour to the homeless family as the Centre was able to bring the parties together for mediation where the misunderstanding was resolved and the family granted full access to their apartment and belongings.

“The outcomes of the mediation brokered by the CMC between the two parties was that the family was given an extension to stay in the apartment till the end of May 2021, while the total sum of N170, 0000 was also waived from the house rent arrears to ease the eventual relocation of the family to a new property on or before 31st May, 2021”, she added.

Urging both parties to strictly comply with the agreement signed, Oseni appealed to members of the public to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism in settling their disputes, reiterating the Lagos State Government’s commitment to amicable dispute resolutions among residents.