Daily Law Tips (Tip 588) by Onyekachi Umah, Esq., LLM. ACIArb(UK)

5 WAYS TO PROVE OWNERSHIP OF LAND IN NIGERIA.

Land disputes are prevalent across Nigeria. Most communal clashes stem from land disputes. Aside Internet fraud, land transaction is a common tool in the hands of fraudsters.

Learning how to prove ownership of land is a vital skill in Nigeria. Ahead of a land dispute, the skill will enable land owners, sellers, purchasers and beneficiaries of land gifts to obtain important land documents and stay ready for land disputes at all times. This makes the work of prosecution and defence lawyers easy.

Below are the words of the Court of Appeal, on this issue.

”It is now well accepted that in a claim for declaration of title, a Plaintiff as well as a Defendant/counter claiming declaration of title to land has open to him five way by which to prove his title to the land in dispute. These five ways, which have crystallized over the years in a long line of decided cases as are replete in our law reports are each if proved by credible and cogent evidence sufficient to ground title in the party who so claims. These five methods are namely: (a) Evidence of traditional history of title (b) By production of title documents (c) By acts of ownership (d) By acts of possession long enough to warrant the person in possession as the owner. (e) By acts of possession of a adjoining or adjacent land in such a way as would make it probable that the owner of the adjoining or adjacent land is also the owner of the land in dispute. See Idundun V. Okumagba (10976) 6 – 10 SC 48,; Morenikeji V. Adebugun (2003) 8 NWLR (Pt. 825) 612; Ojah V. Eviawure (2000) FWLR (Pt. 57) 163; Okore V. Onuyejuwa (2001) FWLT (pt. 41) 1820.” Per BIOBELE ABRAHAM GEORGEWILL ,J.C.A ( Pp. 51-52, paras. C-B ). Quotation is from the case of GABDO v. USMAN (2015) LPELR-25678(CA)

My authorities are:

1. The Court of Appeal’s judgement in the case of GABDO v. USMAN (2015) LPELR-25678(CA)
2. Idundun V. Okumagba (10976) 6 – 10 SC 48
3. Morenikeji V. Adebugun (2003) 8 NWLR (Pt. 825) 612;
4. Ojah V. Eviawure (2000) FWLR (Pt. 57) 163
5. Okore V. Onuyejuwa (2001) FWLT (pt. 41) 1820

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