₦airaland Forum

HOW TO LEGALLY ADOPT A CHILD IN NIGERIA

Child adoption is the permanent legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from one a person or couple (birth parents) to another person or couple (adoptive parents).

Child adoption in Nigeria is a legal process where a person or couple assumes parental rights & duties for a child, permanently transferring care & custody from the birth parents or guardians.

This process creates a new, lifelong relationship between the child and adoptive parents.

It involves legal documentation and transfer of parental rights as birth parents relinquish their parental rights, adoptive parents assume full parental responsibilities and the adopted child becomes a full member of the adoptive family.

Adoption Process in Nigeria:
1. Application: Submit application to the relevant State Govt Ministry.
2. Home Study: Assessment of prospective adoptive parents' suitability.
3. Matching: Identification of suitable child if you have no child of choice or interest.
4. Placement: Temporary care before adoption
5. Court Proceedings. Legal adoption finalization.

Note that there are legal requirements a person or couple seeking to adopt a child must meet, such as right age, good physical and mental health, stable income, background check and security clearance.

Adopting a child is best handled with the help of a seasoned and experienced Lawyer/Attorney.

If you need help with child adoption, contact Apex Chambers, top Law Firm in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

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NEVER BUY A PROPERTY, LAND/BUILDING IN THE ABSENCE OF YOUR PROPERTY LAWYER

Yesterday Apex Chambers, foremost Law Firm of expert Lawyers, Barristers, Solicitors, Advocates, Counsel, Advocates & Notary Public with 17 years practical legal experience and law office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, received a call from a new client.

He said his online search for the best Property and Real Estate Lawyers led him to Apex Chambers, and he needed us to conduct comprehensive due diligence (investigations) on a piece of land that he wanted to buy at Rukpokwu near Port Harcourt.

He consulted us to, if the land has no issues, prepare a comprehensive land purchase document for him.

When you want to buy property, land or building, there's an all-important need to consult a reliable Property or Real Estate Lawyer/Attorney to thoroughly investigation the property and ensure that there are no ownership tussles, acquisition matters or other legal, regulatory, official or environmental hinderances.

This legal investigation will determine whether or not you will continue with the purchase of the property, as it will help you expose hidden legal issues surrounding the property.

It is instructive to note that the awareness on the need for due diligence in property buying transactions is gaining grounds.

Buy smart.

If you need legal help with due diligence, drafting and preparing of property or land/building purchase documents, call, WhatsApp or email Apex Chambers, Port Harcourt.

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DO YOU WANT TO APPLY AS GUARDIAN OF A CHILD OR INCAPACITATED PERSON IN NIGERIA? HERE IS HOW TO

In Nigeria, guardianship is a legal process where an person or organization is appointed to care for a child or an incapacitated person, managing their welfare, property, and financial affairs.

A child here means a person below 18 years of age.

Guardianship gives you rights and responsibilities just like the parents of the child.

The following persons or organizations can apply for guardianship:

1. Relatives of the child or incapacitated person.
2. A family friend or acquaintance with a genuine interest in the person's welfare.
3. A non-governmental organization (NGO) or charitable institution.
4. The court can also on it's own appoint a guardian if no one applies.

Consult a Lawyer: Engage the legal services of an experienced Lawyer to guide you through the process of guardianship. Guardianship involves a legal process and only your Lawyer can help you through the whole process.

Your Lawyer will file a petition for guardianship at the relevant court, and there will be a Court hearing where the Magistrate will review the Guardianship application and supporting documents; conduct an inquiry into the applicant's suitability and, most importantly, consider the best interests of the child or incapacitated person.

Need legal help with child guardianship application? Call, email or Whatsapp Apex Chambers, top Law Firm of Lawyers, Solicitors & Attorneys in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

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HOW TO ADOPT A NIGERIAN CHILD OR BE A LEGAL GUARDIAN

A legal guardian is a person other a child's biological parents who is legally empowered to assume the role of a parent, live with, take care of and take decisions in the best interest of a person below 18 years of age.

If you're a Nigerian living abroad and seeking to adopt or be the legal guardian of a child in Nigeria to enable the child live with you abroad, you will need to consult a Lawyer who is very experienced in child adoption and legal guardianship to help you through the process.

This will including the administrative process and securing a court order for adoption or legal guardianship.

Some persons make the mistake of adopting a child or becoming a guardian without taking proper legal steps for adoption or legal guardianship.

This puts you at a big risk of flouting the law and facing severe legal consequences for anything that happens to a child that you're not legally empowered to adopt or be his/her guardian.

These negative consequences may include rejection by immigration (visa rejection), unlawful custody of a minor, child abduction, child trafficking & criminal breach of child rights laws.

So thread with caution. We strongly advise that you follow the legal process of adoption or guardianship so as to secure your legal position.

If you need legal help with child adoption or legal guardianship, call, email or Whatsapp Apex Chambers, best Law Firm of Lawyers & Attorneys in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Apex Chambers +2.3.4.7.0.3.0.8.6.8.6.9.4

YOU WANT TO BUY PROPERTY? THEN GET A PROPERTY LAWYER

One terrible mistake that persons who buy property, land/house, and which comes with very devastating legal consequences is not consulting and engaging a Property Lawyer who is a trusted expert in Property and Real Estate transactions.

Make no mistakes about it, neither a surveyor nor an estate agent, estate manager (who is not a Property Lawyer) real estate company or the likes is competent or suitably qualified to guide you through the right legal process of acquiring property, land, house/building or any piece of real estate.

It is in your best interest to secure the legal services of the best professional - a Property and Real Estate Lawyer - who is adequately trained and experienced to give you reliably legal advice; help you conduct complete due diligence (investigations) over the property; review ownership documents belonging to your vendor/seller; draft and prepare comprehensive property, land/house purchase documents that will perfectly protect your legal property and financial interests.

You don't go to a mechanic when you're sick. Do you? So why engage a person other than a very experienced Property and Real Estate Lawyer when you want to buy property, land or house/building?

You owe yourself a duty to consult the right Lawyer and have peace of mind.

If you want to buy a property, land, house/building or transact in any piece of property or real estate, contact Apex Chambers, top Law Firm of Property Lawyers & Attorneys in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

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CONSULT A BUSINESS LAWYER TO REVIEW YOUR CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT BEFORE SIGNING

Reviewing a Contract or Agreement before signing it is one important step that a lot of persons neglect. This failure to have your contract properly reviewed is largely responsible for terrible legal consequences for persons.

Many unfavourable terms in Contracts/Agreement are usually drafted with legal jargons and in some cases language that appear simple yet with an unintended meaning.

It is in your best interest that you consult an experienced Business Lawyer to have your Contract and Agreement thoroughly reviewed and make valuable input before you sign it.

Such review will ensure you have clear terms and conditions; compliance with laws and regulations; identify potential risks; ensure inclusion of favourable terms; identify ambiguities; ensure that the Agreement is legally enforceable and ultimately protect your business and property rights and interests.

So don't be in a hurry to sign a Contract/Agreement. First, engage a very reliable expert Business Lawyer and Attorney to help you review the Contract or Agreement, and follow his legal guidance.

If you need help with Contract or Agreement review, call, email or Whatsapp Apex Chambers, foremost Law Firm of very experienced Business/Corporate/Commercial Lawyers, Barristers, Solicitors, Advocates, Attorneys and Notary Public with 17 years practical legal experience and law office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, anyday, anytime and from anywhere in the world.

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Rukkyfunny

WHEN BUYING LAND/BUILDING, TAKE YOUR TIME; DON’T BE PRESSURED TO FAST-TRACK THE BUYING

It is advisable that you don’t let the vendor or his representatives mount pressure on you to speed up the buying process. More often than not, vendors who pressure the buyer to hasten up are not genuine.

Consider being pressured a red flag and proceed with caution. When such pressure comes, diffuse it. Downplay it and don’t budge. Don’t abridge, overlook or do away with any part of the land buying process.

The major aim of mounting pressure is usually to make the buyer ignore what should be given proper attention. Land/building/house buying should not be an emergency transaction.

There should be no urgency in it. Take painstaking steps to be double sure. Take your time and make your findings and insist on what needs to be insisted on. Be immune to pressure from your vendor and his agents.

It is in your best interest that you be that way. Don’t be too quick to part with your money.

INVOLVE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHEN BUYING LAND OR BUILDING IN RURAL AREAS

It is important that you bear in mind that community chiefs, elders and leaders are in the best position to point you in the right direction when buying land in rural areas. Engage them secretly while doing the transaction and seek to know where the true ownership of the land lies.

They are in a position to show you the true boundaries too. Inform them of your desire to buy the land and seek their inputs. Engage as many of them as you can, but be sure that their input is not tainted with malice or ill will.

This will eliminate incidents of fraud and misrepresentation of facts as they
will indicate to you which is community or family land as well as the true
identity of the owning family. Note that in rural areas everybody knows
everybody.

So it is quite easy to elicit or get factual information on your purchase interests.

If you need legal help with these or any property/land/real estate or business/commercial matter or transaction, call or Whatsapp Apex Chambers, best Law Firm of very experienced Property/Real Estate and Business/Commercial Lawyers, Barristers, Solicitors, Counsel, Advocates, Attorneys and Notary Public with 17 years innovative practical legal experience and offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos, Nigeria, any day, anytime and from anywhere in the world.

WHEN BUYING LAND/BUILDING, EMBARK ON DUE DILIGENCE (INVESTIGATIONS) BEFORE PAYMENT

One of the most costly mistakes that people make in buying land/building and which has proven to come with very terrible & mostly irreparable negative consequences is the failure to do due diligence before committing to land transactions.

Due diligence is a conscious effort to investigate ownership and issues affecting the land/building you have set out to buy. Probe and ask questions. Do discreet and covert (secret) investigations.

Scrutinize every information given to you by the vendor and his representatives/agents.
Do not to take this for granted. Things are not usually the way they seem. Make proper findings.

Family land cannot be validly sold without the consent of the family head and principal members of the family. So ask yourself these questions: Who truly
owns that?

What truly is the size or boundary? Are there legal issues surrounding the property? Could it be subject to government acquisition or
already acquired by the government for public interest purposes? Is there a
pending legal dispute or issue that if you are aware of, would make you have
a rethink over the buying?

The list is long. It never ends well when things go wrong. You would have to battle with imminent or definite loss of investment. Don't be caught off-guard. Some cases are beyond remedy.

Apex Chambers +2.3.4.7.0.3.0.8.6.8.6.9.4

There is an all-important need for a land purchaser to, at the earliest possible time, engage an experienced property and real estate Lawyer to kick-start the process of buying land or house. Bear in mind that not every Lawyer is adequately equipped to handle land buying transactions. Experience is key.
Such Lawyer is trained to navigate the intricacies, processes and issues around buying of land, and there is no gainsaying the fact that his professional input is most-needed and from the genesis of the land buying venture. Not along the line, in the middle of it, after payments have been made or when things go south.

Engage the services of a Lawyer as soon as you decides to acquire land or house, for proper guidance. Let the Property and Real Estate Lawyer guide you every step of the way. Most importantly, follow legal advice. It is one thing to engage the services of a Lawyer and another thing to defer to your Lawyer in his area of expertise. It could be a bit pricy or costly, but in the long run it is worth every penny spent. Do not be penny wise pound foolish.

It is pretty easy for a Lawyer to smoke out red flags, fraud and suspicious issues at the early stages of the process. You can be sure that consulting a Property Lawyer will protect your land interest. Native intelligence will not be of much help to you in the process of acquisition of land or house. Buy smart.

Amongst the numerous property acquisition and investment options, buying land appear to be some of the most favoured. Land is an essential part of human existence and sustenance. It is a valuable commodity that has proven to have a high appreciation in value over time. Land could be bought to develop it for commercial purposes, personal uses or for land banking.

Land banking is the act of buying land as a future investment and with no immediate or specific plans to develop it. Such purchase is usually made to allow the land appreciate in value over time. However, buying a land or house in Nigeria, as indeed so many other places, is a venture that ought to be embarked on with carefulness, tact and a thorough and detailed understanding of what it truly entails.

Depending on how you go about land purchase, it could be either a huge source of relief and deep-seated happiness or a thorny source of agony, sadness and regrets. In order to avoid regrets in land buying transactions, this legal epistle will guide you in practical terms and a simplified form to avoid issues that usually arise in land purchase transactions.

It is expected that you will pay very close attention to these practical guide to safeguard your hard-earned funds and save yourself the hassles of land and house ownership tussles.
We will now proceed to consider each of those steps that must be taken when setting out to buy land. Each is as important as the other, and none should by any means be considered less worthy of attention.

Little things in land buying truly matter as serious legal issues could indeed be woven around those seemingly little matters. Let us now dive into considering each of these guides.

Hello my people

I will be sharing tips that would help you avoid mistakes when buying land, building, real estate and property generally.

I have 17 years experience as a Lawyer, hold a PhD in Property and Business Law and I run a Property/Real Estate and Business/Commercial Law Firm with office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Sit back, relax and ensure you take note of all the free legal tips I will be sharing in this space.

Attorney-General of Rivers State, Professor Zacheus Adangor, redeployed as Commissioner for Special Duties (Governor's Office) has resigned his appointment.

Amongst the numerous property acquisition and investment options, buying land appears to be one of the most favoured. Land is an essential part of human existence and sustenance. It is valuable commodity that has proven to have a high appreciation in value over time.

Land could be bought to develop it for commercial purposes, personal uses or for land banking. Land banking is the act of buying land as a future investment and with no immediate or specific plans to develop it. Such purchase is usually made to allow the land appreciate in value over time.

Buying a land in Nigeria, as indeed so many other places, is a venture that ought to be embarked on with carefulness, tact and a thorough and detailed understanding of what it truly entails.

Depending on how you go about land purchase, it could be either a huge source of relief and deep-seated happiness or a thorny source of agony, sadness and regrets. In order to avoid regrets in land buying transactions, this book will guide you in practical terms and a simplified form to avoid issues that usually arise in land purchase transactions.

It is expected that you will pay very close attention to these practical guard to safeguard your hard-earned funds and save yourself the hassles of land ownership tussles.
We will now proceed to consider each of those steps that must be taken when setting out to buy land. Each is as important as the other, and none should by any means be considered less worthy of attention. Little things in land buying truly matter as serious legal issues could indeed be woven around those seemingly little matters.

This work offers very detailed and practical legal guidance to persons seeking to buy land and house in Nigeria and so as to help them avoid costly errors and secure their funds, property and real estate investments. It is a product of my 17 years experience in Property and Real Estate Law Practice which prompted me to bag a PhD in Property and Business Law.

Let us now dive into considering each of these guides.

1. BEGIN THE BUYING PROCESS WITH A REAL ESTATE LAWYER
There is an all-important need to point out the need for a land purchaser to, at the earliest possible, time, engage an experienced real estate Lawyer to kick-start the process of buying land. Bear in mind that not every Lawyer is adequately equipped to handle land buying transactions. Experience is key. Such Lawyer is trained to navigate the intricacies, processes and issues around buying of land, and there is no gainsaying the fact that his professional input is most-needed and from the genesis of the land buying venture. Not along the line, in the middle of it, after payments have been made or when things go south.

Engage the services of a Lawyer as soon as you decides to acquire land for proper guidance. Let the lawyer guide you. Most importantly, follow legal advice. It is one thing to engage the services of a Lawyer and another thing to defer to your Lawyer in his area of expertise. It could be a bit pricy or costly, but in the long run it is worth every penny spent. Do not be penny wise pound foolish. It is pretty easy for a Lawyer to smoke out red flags, fraud and suspicious issues at the early stages of the process. You can be sure that consulting a Lawyer will protect your land interest. Native intelligence will not be of much help to you in the process of acquisition of land. Buy smart.

Written by
Dr. Precious Egbule, Esq, MCIArb (UK)
Managing Attorney, Apex Chambers,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Apex Chambers is a reputable Law Firm of very experienced Property/Real Estate and Business/Commercial Lawyers, Barristers, Solicitors, Advocates, Attorneys and Notary Public in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

This is ready saddening. Agala was my learned senior when we together as Lawyers in the same law firm in Port Harcourt between 2009 and 2012. Eze is not part of his name, it's more like a nickname we added to his name.

He was truly a very jovial man, full of smiles and laughter. We even did some cases together even after I left the office and set up my own Property/Real Estate and Business law firm.

It's hard to believe that Eze Agala is gone just like that. It is well.

Your rent began to run on 17th September and will expire on 16th September. Rent always expires on the eve of its anniversary.

Take it from someone who holds a PhD in Property and Business Law and 17 years legal Practice experience.

Hensard - Henry Seriake Dickson
This University is owned by the former Governor of Bayelsa State

This is where I am headed. Congrats to the new silks

When I did my Masters Degree research work on Drug Consumer Rights and Drug Consumers I was exposed to loads of info on the devastating effects of pharmaceuticals. It's sad that the need for profit trumps the sanctity of human life.

Ok

Odin13:
Apc no fit buy this judge ..

Hey!!! For Nigeria ?

The Yoruba CJN must draft this one quickly into tribunal judges for presidential tribunal

It's a panel of Court of Appeal that hears Presidential election petitions in the first instance and appeals of their decision go to the Supreme Court

Who come remain for Enugu APC like this?

Wow

Good

Nairalander, Gavel, with a Doctoral degree in law celebrates his birthday

Nairalander, Gavel, with a Doctoral degree in law celebrates his birthday

Urheadmaster:
4yrs is more like 4 months.

They deserves life imprisonment

By virtue of Section 329A paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (the law guiding Criminal law in Southern Nigeria) the punishment for unlawful possession of human head is five years imprisonment.

Wow

What's the reason for his arrest?

MY FIRST COURT APPEARANCE AS A LAWYER

The funny story I’m about to tell you happened to me in 2008 in faraway Ilorin, Kwara State. If you laugh me eeh, me and you go get problem. This was shortly after I passed the Law School Bar Finals exam in 2008. After I passed the exam in one sitting I swear say even sign board I no go read. I read book sotey I begin hear one kain sound inside my head. See me now, still surrounded with books.

Back to the matter. So Now Your Suffering Continues (NYSC) look me finish post me go Ilorin. PH boy wey them suppose beg to accept Abj. I took it in good faith, packed my portmanteau and faced north. The air trip to the North-Central sojourn meant either a flight to Lagos and a long road trip to Ilorin or, in the alternative, a flight to Abuja and then another log road waka to Ilorin.

Talk of being stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. This kain dilemma be as e get. The 11-hour road trip was draining. I siddon for motor sotey nyash begin pain me. This kain by force service sef. Exemption letter for make sense oh. Why 30 years come far from me na. E good? Nothing spoil sha. All follow for experience. Make I follow Chukwudi brag say I don go north before.

Presh, please go straight to the point na, you are beating around the bush. All these oversabi Lawyers sef. Sorry, is it your bush? Is the bush complaining? Proper foundation must be laid oh, as we Lawyers always say, forgetting say we nor be bricklayers. So when we got to Ede in Osun State the driver parked by the roadside and gave us this special announcement:

“Una wey dey go Kwara, make una come down make I put una for motor wey dey go that side. Na Ibadan I dey go.”
I just weak. Abeg who I offend? So this man don run me street so. What of the Ilorin boldly written on the box placed ontop of the car while it was loading at Abali park in Mile 1.

E no just hungry me to word this man, because if I tell am wetin dey my mind e fit use him fan belt commit suicide. So I mumbled some complaints under my breath. Wisdom is profitable. Me wey no know where I dey. So in my mind I was like “Baba you sure e go better for you for this life like this?”

We arrived Ilorin and Yoruba language rent the air. Presh you have come again oh. Which one be rent the air. Them dey rent air ni? Na house? You don come with your yeye grammar again. Rent kor, caution fee ni.

You too dey vex, oya no vex na. I mean say as we reach Ilorin everybody dey speak Yoruba language. I quickly drew the attention of one middle aged man and enquired:
“Excuse me Sir, please I am going to Ilorin, Kwara State in the north. But it’s like they took me to Oyo State. Please what do I do?”
Sir replied: “No, you are in the right place. This is Ilorin in Kwara State. Welcome to the State of Harmony.”

Alaye, the only harmony I want now is to be reunited with my family. I never begin the service I don tire.
NYSC this one wey una carry me come north wey dey rap Yoruba, e good? Una for kuku carry me go Ile-Ife na. Oh Chim. Nothing flyover no go see for Wike hand.

(TO BE CONTINUED)