Property Lawyer in Abuja

Title verification confirms that the seller has legal ownership of the property and that it is free from encumbrances, disputes, or government acquisition. Without it, you risk purchasing a property with a defective title.

Key documents include the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), survey plan, deed of assignment, and evidence of payment of ground rent. We conduct a comprehensive check of all relevant documents.

Yes. We handle landlord and tenant disputes, boundary disputes, and property ownership disputes through negotiation, mediation, or litigation as appropriate.

Land verification in Abuja starts with a search at the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), which keeps the land records for the Federal Capital Territory. The search shows whether the title is in the records, who holds it and whether it has been revoked, mortgaged or caveated. A careful check also looks at the survey plan, visits the plot and searches for court cases about the land. We do this for you and send a written report before you pay.

AGIS, the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, is the agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration that keeps land records in Abuja. An AGIS search is a formal check of those records for a particular plot, made by written application with a registry fee. The result helps you confirm the title before you buy.

A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is evidence of a statutory right of occupancy granted by a state Governor or, in the FCT, by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. To check one, search the land registry that issued it; in Abuja that is AGIS. The search should confirm that the C of O is in the records, that it is in the seller's name, and that it has not been revoked or encumbered. Do not rely on a photocopy alone.

A deed of assignment is the document by which a seller transfers their interest in land or a building to a buyer. To protect the buyer fully it should be properly signed, approved by the Governor or, in the FCT, the Minister (often called consent), stamped and registered at the land registry. Until those steps are done, the buyer's title can be at risk.

No. A power of attorney lets a person you choose act for you, for example to sign documents or manage a property, but on its own it does not make that person the owner. Buyers are sometimes offered a power of attorney instead of a deed of assignment; if that happens, take legal advice before you pay.

It depends on the tenancy agreement and the type of tenancy. Where the agreement says nothing, the usual notice for a yearly tenancy is six months, and for a monthly tenancy one month. When the notice ends, the landlord must also serve a notice of intention to recover possession before going to court. Only a court can order a tenant to leave; a landlord should not lock a tenant out or remove their belongings without a court order.

A tenancy agreement should name the landlord and tenant, describe the property, and set out the rent, how and when it is paid, any service charge or deposit, who handles repairs, how long the tenancy lasts, how it can be renewed and how much notice each side must give. It should be signed by both sides. Tenancy agreements attract stamp duty, but under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 a lease with an annual value below ₦10 million is exempt, so only larger leases need to be stamped.

Yes. Many Nigerians abroad buy land in Abuja through a lawyer. The lawyer verifies the title, visits the plot, reviews or prepares the deed of assignment and handles consent, stamping and registration. You can sign documents abroad before a notary or at a Nigerian embassy or high commission. Avoid paying cash to agents or relatives on the seller's behalf without a verified title and a written receipt.