Due diligence & acquisitions
Title review, registry searches, survey charting and complete documentation for land and property purchases.
Practice area
Construction & Real Estate
Considered counsel and firm dispute resolution across land, title, tenancy, development and construction matters — across Nigeria.
Overview
Protecting the value in land, buildings and projects.
Property and construction matters are rarely just legal — they are financial, commercial and often urgent. We advise buyers, investors, developers, landlords and contractors on the transactions that create value and the disputes that threaten it.
On the transactional side, we carry out the due diligence that prevents land fraud and document deals properly. When disputes arise, we move quickly — from recovery of premises and injunctions to construction arbitration.
Who we act for
- Property buyers and investors — including Nigerians in the diaspora
- Developers and joint-venture partners
- Landlords and tenants
- Contractors, subcontractors and project owners
- Lenders taking security over property
What we handle
Where we help
Title & land disputes
Ownership, boundary and title-defect disputes, including challenges to instruments and registration.
Governor’s consent & registration
Consent applications, stamping and registration so your interest is properly protected.
Landlord & tenant
Tenancy agreements, rent recovery and recovery of premises — lawfully and efficiently.
Development & joint ventures
Structuring and protecting development, JV and off-plan arrangements.
Construction contracts
Drafting and negotiating building contracts, including FIDIC-based forms.
Construction disputes
Payment, delay, defects and variation claims — through negotiation, arbitration or court.
Property fraud
Where property overlaps with fraud — handled together with our financial crime and recovery practices.
Diaspora property services
Searches, inspections and completions for clients abroad, under a properly drafted power of attorney.
Signs it’s time
When to call us
- Before you pay for land or property
- There is a dispute over title or boundaries
- A tenant will not pay or will not leave
- A contractor has stopped work or is claiming more
- A developer has not delivered what was promised
- You need Governor’s consent or registration completed
The Nigerian framework
Land in Nigeria is governed by the Land Use Act 1978, which vests land in each state in the Governor. Rights are held under Certificates of Occupancy and deemed grants, and transfers of a statutory right of occupancy require the Governor’s consent (section 22).
Tenancies are governed by state law — in many parts of Lagos, the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 sets notice periods and the procedure for recovering premises. Construction disputes are frequently resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.
For clients abroad
Many of our property clients live outside Nigeria. We carry out searches and inspections, instruct surveyors, and complete transactions under a power of attorney — keeping you updated at every step.
Foreign individuals and companies should take advice on state laws on the acquisition of land by non-Nigerians, and on the right ownership structure, before committing funds.
How we work
A clear process, from first call to resolution.
Understand
We learn the transaction or dispute, the documents and what you actually need.
Verify
Searches, charting and document review — so decisions rest on facts, not assurances.
Act
Documentation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court — pursued efficiently.
Protect
Consent, registration and enforcement, so your interest is secure for the long term.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can’t see your question? Ask us directly — a short, confidential conversation is the fastest way to clarity.
What checks should I do before buying land?
At a minimum: review the seller’s title documents, conduct a search at the state land registry, chart the survey plan at the Surveyor-General’s office, confirm the seller’s authority (especially for family land), and inspect the site. Our Insights article on land due diligence has a full checklist.
What is Governor’s consent, and do I need it?
Under section 22 of the Land Use Act, transferring or mortgaging a statutory right of occupancy requires the Governor’s consent. Without it, your interest is vulnerable. We handle the application, stamping and registration.
Can I buy property in Nigeria while living abroad?
Yes. We carry out the due diligence, inspections and completion on your behalf under a power of attorney, and keep you updated remotely.
How do I lawfully recover my property from a tenant?
By serving the correct notice to quit for the type of tenancy, then the statutory notice of intention to recover possession, and — if the tenant still does not leave — court proceedings. In many parts of Lagos, a yearly tenant is entitled to six months’ notice. Self-help eviction is unlawful.
Our contractor abandoned the site. What can we do?
Review the contract’s termination, notice and dispute clauses, record the state of the works, and take advice before engaging a replacement contractor, so that your claim for delay and extra cost is preserved.
Do you handle both transactions and disputes?
Yes — from documenting a development to resolving a contested title.
Can you act urgently on possession or trespass?
Yes, including injunctions to stop trespass, demolition or construction on disputed land where the facts support it.
What if the dispute involves fraud?
We handle that too — our financial crime and recovery practices work alongside the property team so both dimensions are covered together.
Guides
Practical guides for this area
Members guide
Before you sign a building contract: 12 clauses to check
The contract terms that decide most construction disputes — and what to look for in each.
Read the guide Members guideA landlord’s guide to lawful recovery of premises in Lagos
Notices, timelines and court steps for recovering property from a tenant lawfully in Lagos.
Read the guide Free guideThe land documents checklist: C of O, deed, consent and survey
What each land document means, what it proves — and what to verify before relying on it.
Read the guideInsights
Further reading
Real Estate
Renting in Lagos: what landlords and tenants should know
Agreements, rent, repairs and ending a tenancy — the essentials of the Tenancy Law of Lagos State for…
Real Estate
Buying land in Nigeria: the due-diligence checklist before you pay
Land fraud is avoidable. The searches, documents and consents to confirm before any money changes hands.
A property or construction matter you need resolved?
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will map the fastest sensible path.