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BusinessRe: Frequently Asked Questions: A-Z Of Company Registration In Nigeria by lawyer(op): 10:32pm On Jul 05, 2009
@Seth Cohen

Seth Cohen:
How do we get to know the bonanza price because i really need it now and how do we get in touch with you?
hmmm . . . . i will try to answer your questions as diplomatically and legally as possible smiley

1. Like i said before, i will not reveal the price here because everyone is different and each company has its own extra necessities to handle i.e its share capital, its objects, the ones that require verification and certificate of proficiencies etc and my relationship with each person. I have always said its better you send me a mail or call and we will take it up from there. What i offer as a bonanza differs for each person.

2.
Besides is there anyone you have registered their company for on nairaland and would it be possible for you to hook us with them to confirm or can they confirm personally? Sorry for all these personal questions but i think it will do you more to your intergrity if we know more about other nairalanders who have benefitted from it
I have registered companies for so many nairalanders whereby they crack jokes calling me Nairaland company secretary grin but there is one thing i will never ever do. That is, reveal the names, directors and companies of people i have registered their companies based on the rule of Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure that occurs between me and my clients. There are a Million and one reasons why i wouldnt disclose their names because i doubt if you will want me to disclose confidential issues relating to your own company to the outside world. Its a Major Lawyer-Client priviledge that i fulfill to the end, so i am sorry there as the risk of sounding arrogant. I respect people's privacy!

But as a blow softener, i will willing give you references privately if you ask or mail me for you to do your own private investigation and research from others i have done company registrations for but its subject to that person agreeing to be a referee to expose his or her identity. If not, i won't tell you. Its part of my job to be diligent, prudent and respect the client's privacy at all times during the company registration and after the company registeration.

If you have any question about company registration, feel free to ask. This is a forum, we should share information not hoard it and i will be happy to answer them for you within my capacity and understanding.

Please i hope you understand! wink
RomanceRe: I Feel My "Bad" Ex Is On The Winning Side Nd I Am On The Losing Side. by lawyer(m): 8:57pm On Jul 03, 2009
@Monicaa

Your worse than Adam Brody undecided

I remember sometime last year when Adam Brody made a thread about him being callous with women because his ex treated him badly and left him and he does these bad things to women so as to make him remind him of his ex.

I also remembered a score of posters advising him against it and for him to move forward including you yourself who advised him to forget the past and move forward and hope for the best because you were in the same position and you would advise him to move on. But this is almost 1 year now since that post and you are still worried about your ex while the Adam Guy has vanished into thin air probably married with a new babe and your worring yourself stiff over your ex.

1. Your a prisoner to a person who doesnt wake up in the morning thinking of you and goes to bed with you as the last thing on his mind

2. He is probably either settled with someone he likes or still behaving like a jerk breaking other girls hearts

3. Your denying yourself the gift of life and happiness by tying your life to someone who never deserved you and will probably never know the difference between whats good and bad for him

4. Your letting your ego get into your way because you fantasize of what would have been and what should still be hereby making you stuck in time while the rest of the world moves forward light years ahead of you.

5. I have seen your picture before, you are a very pretty girl and you would probably meet a hoard of admirers and possible suitors that would appreciate you more than your ex, so why hold that eternal fondness for someone that doesnt care about you undecided

Live your life to the fullness and enjoy the goodness of what life has to offer! Life is too short to brood over one person who doesnt care for you!
WebmastersRe: Your Favorite Nigerian Website(s)? by lawyer(m): 12:50pm On Jul 01, 2009
Testing testing testing - Seun
PropertiesRe: Real Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:43pm On Jun 30, 2009
Managing Omo Onile
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-74958.0.html

How Can I Obtain Land Document?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-72764.0.html

Cost Implications Of Building Without Using Contractors
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-45081.0.html

The Bar Beach At It Again!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-72101.0.html

Renting In Ilorin
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-71388.0.html

The Most Expensive House In Nigeria
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-66513.0.html

How To Minimise Theft On Construction Site
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-77618.0.html

Changing of house plan
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-72907.0.html

Lessons For Nigerians In Diaspora, When Building Your House Back Home.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-81114.0.html

My Landlord Insists On Phcn Flat Rate Irrespective Of The Bill
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-80729.0.html

How Much Are Houses In Benin City?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-87949.0.html

Building Plan Approval Process And Cost In Lagos State.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-74125.0.html

How To Criticise Your Architect
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-96461.0.html

How To Test My Land For Crude Oil?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-97286.0.html
PropertiesRe: Real Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:37pm On Jun 30, 2009
Please Lawyer Help Me Answer This Questions. I Am In A Fix With Omoniles!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-255491.0.html

Somebody Is Claiming My Land.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-252459.0.html

How To Be A Home Owner In United Kingdom
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-36764.0.html

How Can A Starter Make Profit Investing In Properties
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-261200.0.html

Lagos Rail Mass Transit - Who Will Use It?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-204782.0.html

What Is The Best Way To Build A House?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-274503.0.html

Buyers Beware - Dont Buy Revoked Lands In Magodo - See Attached
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-280159.0.html

Lasg Draws Battle Line With Building Approval Violators
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-280133.0.html

Logic To Use In Buying Land From Omo-onile In Mowe And Ofada Area
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-271237.0.html

Issues Of Land Documentation And Building Plan Approval
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-60628.0.html

Who Can Supply Solar Energy In Nigeria!?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-131676.0.html
PropertiesRe: Real Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:34pm On Jun 30, 2009
Setting Up A Real Estate Agent Outfit - What Are The Requirements Please.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-152813.0.html

Tips From A Property Lawyer About Renting & Sale Of Property Especially In Lagos
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-152150.0.html

Cost Implication In Respect Of Construction Of Three Bedroom Flat!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-146625.0.html

Investing In Student Accomodation - Information Needed!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-129250.0.html

What Is The Implication Of Buying A Govt Land With Allocation Letter Only.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-162899.0.html

Reasons Why You Should No Longer Feel Skeptical About Buying Land or Property
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-166070.0.html

My Land In Badore Is Government Acquisition
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-183366.0.html

Seun, Nairaland Properties Needs A Moderator Asap!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-203047.0.html

How To Calculate The Amount Of Paint Needed For Your Room
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-209987.0.html

Who Repairs A Damaged Apartment? Landlord or Tenant?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-224544.0.html

I Am Just Curious! Why Do Agents Avoid Taking Pictures Of Their Properties Ads
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-204425.0.html

Part 1: No Risk, No Return; Our Guide To Land & Landed Property @ Lekki Axis
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-237636.0.html

A Den Or A Nest? The Pines, Ibadan. The Nest Organic City, Mowe. Pictures
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-223881.0.html

Cost Of Borehole Drilling In Lagos
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-100707.0.html
PropertiesRe: Real Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:29pm On Jun 30, 2009
Roofing Experts On Nairaland Lets Hear Your Views And Ideas
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-105249.0.html

R Of O And C Of O. What's The Difference ?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112804.0.html

Lawyer Role In Buying Land
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-109113.0.html

House Foundation Cost Quotation
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-112516.0.html

Young Graduates! Why You Should Build A House Before Buying A Car
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-118970.0.html

Process Of Buying Land In Nigeria
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-34551.0.html

Are You A Builder Or An Engineer?please Read This
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-88076.0.html

Ikorodu Help To Build And Aquire Land
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-104865.0.html

820,000 Naira For Fencing: A Rip-off?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-129135.0.html

Multimillionaire Brother Evicted From His Home In DC
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-132356.0.html

Re;abc Of Mortgages In Nigeria,pls Share!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-131609.0.html

Dangers Of Ignoring Concrete Cracks In Your Building
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-145346.0.html

Conduct A Search,before Writing A Bank Draft(s) For That Property:
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-146068.0.html

Building A Fence: Cost Of Precast
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-121049.0.html
PropertiesRe: Real Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:22pm On Jun 30, 2009
Is It Safe For A W/student To Buy A Land & Keep To Sell Or Use In Future?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-38495.0.html


Land Use: Yar’adua To Propose Amendment
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-52965.0.html

Who Knows Anything About Buying In Oko Oba?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51980.0.html

Self Contain. What Is It?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-50186.0.html

Advice On Buying In Abraham Adesanya Estate, Lekki-ajah
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51983.0.html

How Large Is 'A Plot' Of Land?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-47513.0.html

Does Anybody Know Anything About Abuja Mortgage Schemes?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-59118.0.html

What Is The Standard Size Of A Plot And Why Was The Size Chosen To Be Standard
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-55495.0.html

Real Estate: The Problem Of 'Omo Onile'
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-59688.0.html

Cost Of Cement Droping Soon?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-62935.0.html

Learn How To Hire A General Contractor
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-75038.0.html
PropertiesReal Estate Topic Library (Must Read Before You Buy Any Land Or Property) by lawyer(op): 10:19pm On Jun 30, 2009
Another Sad Land Sale Gone Totally Horribly Wrong! Purchasers Shine Your Eyes O!  undecided
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-185775.0.html

Before you buy any Land, Property and Mortgage Read this:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-234950.0.html

How To Calculate The Price of a C of O and Governor's Consent In Lagos Yourself
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-161375.0.html

Part 2: How To Calculate The Price Of A Governor's Consent In Lagos Yourself
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=364459.msg5095262#msg5095262


My Problem With Instalmental Payment For Land. Why I Will Never Endorse It
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=395244.msg5500752#msg5500752


Lakowe Phase2 Estate Lekki:another Cheap Nairaland Hidden Treasure In An Estate


https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=432811.msg5914082#msg5914082

A-Z Of The Do’s And Don’ts Of Buying A Land Or Property In Lagos
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-282247.0.html

How To Buy A Lagos State Government Residential Housing Scheme. Dos And Donts
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=535975.msg6982102#msg6982102

Pictures Dont Lie: The Real Mowe And Ofada Agents Wont Tell You About

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-306563.0.html

Seun, Nairaland Properties Needs A Moderator Asap!

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-203047.0.html

Tips From A Property Lawyer About Renting & Sale Of Property Especially In Lagos

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-152150.0.html

Calculations And Requirements For Obtaining A Building Plan Approval In Lagos

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=498747.msg6589543#msg6589543

Okun Ajah (Proposed Nairaland Estate) A Hidden treasure by the beach
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-325201.0.html

Scam Alert! Latest Scam By Estate Developers-allocated Plot Swapping

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=450782.msg6153953#msg6153953

Reasons Why You Should No Longer Feel Skeptical About Buying Land or Property

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-166070.0.html

Please Lawyer Help Me Answer This Questions. I Am In A Fix With Omoniles!

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-255491.0.html

What Is The Implication Of Buying A Govt Land With Allocation Letter Only.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-162899.0.html

How Do We Get Rid Of Dubious Agents On Nairaland? Advise Needed
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=391775.msg5435425#msg5435425

Somebody Is Claiming My Land.
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-252459.0.html

Advanced Rents Banned In Lagos: 
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-281589.0.html

I am going back to be a moderator so no one will call me a fraudster
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-351193.0.html

Lawyer Pls Help: Deed Of Lease And Deed Of Assignment
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria?topic=289462.msg4100455#msg4100455


I Need A Plot Of Land In Badagry Now! Disney Comes To Naija!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-132715.0.html


How To Buy Land In Ibadan
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-6885.0.html

The Art Of Land Speculation
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-284323.0.html


Are Landladies So Wicked?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-289552.0.html

C Of O Fee Madness In Abuja, N18,000/m2 From N2000/m2!
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-314208.0.html


Does Anyone Know How Much It Cost For Building Contractors In Portharcourt?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-43797.0.html


How To Get A Good Flat In Nigeria?
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-40603.0.html


Help Me Plan My Bachelor Pad (My Own Place)
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-1916.0.html


New Costs And Rules From Alausa To Get And Calculate Governors Consent Yourself
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-266569.0.html
FamilyRe: Who's Mother's Favorite Child by lawyer(m): 5:30pm On Jun 29, 2009
I have never really understood that biased nature of mothers to dote on the last born more than the other children. Isnt that selfish? How do the other kids feel? i.e child 4 in a family of 8 or child 3 in a family of 4?
PropertiesRe: Are Landladies So Wicked? by lawyer(m): 2:32pm On Jun 28, 2009
chaircover:
My mum is probably one of the softest landladys ever.

One tennant is even owing her for well over a year even though the rent hasnt been increased since he moved in 8 years ago. Yet he is having babies nearly every year, In this Lagos!
grin grin grin grin grin grin grin

From My experience i think Landladies are far far more liberal than Landlords because they have that emotional sympathetic way of listening to tenants and assisting to make sure certain amenities are in place. They are only strict and extreme disciplinarians when it comes to the quiet enjoyment of the property in terms of noise, pollution, smoking, entertaining unwanted vistors etc.

But Landlords could be very crude in respecting the wishes of tenants in respect of Amenities and it could take ages before they even answer you to repair that bad roof but when its the end of the year to collect rent, they will already contact their lawyers 6 months to your expiry to start disturbing you to vacate the premises or to inform you about the 20000% increase grin

Landladies are far better than most Lagos Landlords!
PropertiesRe: Lawyer Pls Help: Deed Of Lease And Deed Of Assignment by lawyer(m): 10:40pm On Jun 27, 2009
Hmm . . . Interesting Question and quite a challenge and i will attempt to explain it to you in a simplified manner:

Lawyer please can you find it in your heart to help me on the issues below:

I was made to believe that the land use Act of Nigeria allows for no freehold rather a leasehold of 99 years maximum.
Is this true?
If it allows for only leasehold of 99 years, is a deed of lease for 99 years the same as a deed of assignment in a land transaction?

In deed of assignment, does it specify a leasehold of 99 years or a free hold? (In case I am wrong concerning the land use Act)
1. FREEHOLD Meaning:

Free Hold or fee simple is the estate in land that a person has when the lands are given to him and his heirs absolutely, without any end or limit put to his estate. Land held in fee simple can be conveyed to whomsoever its owner pleases; it can be mortgaged or put up as security as well.

[2] The owner(s) of real property in fee simple title have the right to own the property during their lifetime and typically have a say in determining who gets to own the property after their death. In a sense, one might say fee simple owners "own" the property "forever"; however, only holders of an allodial title on land really do own the land forever, and the land is not subject to property tax.

Historically, estates could be limited in time, such as a life estate, which is an interest in lands that terminates upon the grantee's (or another person's) death, even if the land had been granted to a third party, or a term of years (a lease for a specified term, such as in an estate for years). It also could be limited in the way that it was inherited, such as by what was called an "entailment" which created a fee tail. Traditionally, fee tail was created by words of grant such as "to N. and the male heirs of his body", which would restrict those who could inherit the property. When all those heirs ran out the property would revert to the original grantor's heirs. Most common law countries have abolished entailment by statute

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee_simple
What it Means is that a freehold also known as a Fee simple estate gives you the owner of that land the ultimate right to occupy, own, possess and transfer that land without anybody claiming any form of right on it and it can be transfered to your children and childrens children for life eternity.

2. LEASEHOLD ESTATE:

A leasehold estate is an ownership interest in land in which a lessee or a tenant holds real property by some form of title from a lessor or landlord.

Leasehold is a form of property tenure where one party buys the right to occupy land or a building for a given length of time. As lease is a legal estate, leasehold estate can be bought and sold on the open market. A leasehold thus differs from a freehold where the ownership of a property is purchased outright and thereafter held for an indeterminate length of time, and also differs from a tenancy where a property is let on a periodic basis such as weekly or monthly.

Until the end of the lease period (often measured in decades; a 99 year lease is quite common) the leaseholder has the right to remain in occupation as an assured tenant paying an agreed rent to the owner. Terms of the agreement are contained in a lease, which has elements of contract and property law intertwined.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leasehold_estate
What this Means is that you have a property that has been given to you to occupy for a given period of time which is being owned by some lord, governor or person.

Now in relation to the 1978 Land Use Act, it simply stripped possession of land from individuals in a freehold or fee simple system that has being practiced way back by our forefathers till 1978 and vested all Lands in the State in the hands of the Governor and any property you buy directly has to be granted to you through a certificate of Occupancy issued under the hands of the Governor of the state hereby making you a tenant in that land to that governor for 99 years and renewable after 99 years.

This process only works once the Certificate of Occupancy is being granted to that Land and from then onwards, the Governor knows that your a tenant on its land from the day the certificate of occupancy was issued in your name and the 99 years begins to count down slowly. In Law it is known as the "99 years Unexpired Residue clause"

For example, if you bought a land in the Year 2000 and you were granted and issued a Certificate of Occupancy in your name in the year 2000 also, the 99 years starts to count and that land will not expire until the year 2099 where the whole process of renewal to get a new certificate of occupancy will arise in your name again.

If in the year 2009, you now decided to sell that land to Me, the certificate of occupancy in my name will no longer be 99 years for me but 99 years minus 9 years which means i have 90 more years to enjoy that property until renewal. If i now decide to sell that property in 2049 to Mukina 2, she will only have 49 years unexpired residue to enjoy that land until renewal.

What the Government does with the land use act is to make sure it has a steady source of income from all the lands vested in the state and to know which lands are available and those that arent. I agree this system is quite extortionist in approach because the government bullies land owners in grabbing lands unduely and stating its under acquisition for no just cause and it takes ages for compensation talkless of the time and money to be spent getting a certificate of occupancy and governors consent.

Luckily since the Land Use Act was passed in 1978, There has been no need for anyone to experience the 99 years renewal clause because its until 2077 before the first case of renewal will apply and then we would really know the outcome or potential dangers of the land use act but for now, you shouldnt worry yourself about anything yet but just to obtain the necessary documents and be free from their wahala.


Your second Question is respect of the Deed of Lease and Deed of Assignment is quite straight forward.

The use of Deed of Lease was quite common from the passage of the Land Use Act in 1978 to transfer property especially government property in the Ikoyi, Surulere, Victoria Island Axis from 1978 to the the Middle 1980's. These lands were mostly federal government lands and high profile lands and it was the first foray into the issuance of the certificate of occupancies for the first time to people. The Government was determined to let people know that the Land Use Act was in Force and for people to know that from then hence forth all lands were leases to the people with the government being the landlord but as time went on, due to the complexities of our property law system whereby you cannot ignore the issue of communal or family owned land, these deed of lease encountered many problems because these lands did not regulate their documents to get a certificate of occupancy but the land has to be transfered somehow either to a family member after death or through a gift to another or an immediate sale to a person.

Gradually it changed from being a deed of lease to a deed of Assignment because an Assignment means "To Transfer" and it was in that deed of Assignment all the important information needed to trace the history of the land could be derived from which is a very important document under the law to trace how the property transfered from Mr Lagaja down to Mr Alariwo. It gained popular acceptance amongst the local communal structures and families who had to knowledge or intelligence to figure out the whole Land Use Act fiasco.

Since then the deed of Assignment has become a very popular way and mode of transfering property from A to B that is legally acceptable (But certain terms and Conditions apply only known to your lawyer that makes it admissible in Court and the land registry unless it will be discarded as a worthless piece of paper grin)

If you see any deed of lease today in respect of buying properties, it should be the old colonial properties in the 1950's down to the 1980's and is no longer fashionable today in transfering property .

Another way you can see it today is if you are buying a land, house or property directly from the government and it is issuing you the certificate of Occupancy Directly, then the Deed of Lease will be in perfect order.


A deed of Assignment cannot and will not express a leasehold of the 99years unexpired residue unless that property has a certificate of occupancy. If there is no certificate of occupancy, there is nothing to show that the property is free from government knowledge and the Land Use Act applies to that land that there is a lease of 99 years. In fact most lands without a certificate of occupancy are very dangerous lands to buy because of the inherent wahala that accompanies it hence i always advice for the owners to go and get their certificate of occupancy or better still purchase a land with a global C/O or Certificate of Occupancy.
Cheers!
PropertiesRe: This Landlord Seems Out Of His Mind But Serious Bout This Offer! N695k Per Plot by lawyer(m): 10:37pm On Jun 26, 2009
Trust Me the landlord is not out of his mind and in fact it is well priced or a little bit over priced except it is on the high streets. Ibeju Lekki is approximately 20 minutes without go slow from Sango tedo and i have criss-crossed that area well so i know the terrain, prices of lands there, some families selling land and the kind of documents they have and the ones to avoid. So your price isn't that ludicrious as you make it seem!

The only thing i am concerned about is why charge N75,000 for signing when its just a government gazette? undecided Did the original Buyer not do his own due diligence or what?

Please explain more for alot of people to know what you are truely marketing. Selling is not the issue but knowing that a buyer isnt going to be tangled in this web of complexities of documents that has neither head nor tail in the long run!
PropertiesRe: Dont You See This As An Opportunity To Own Your Land? by lawyer(m): 10:29pm On Jun 26, 2009
Title Documents:
Registered Global Survey
Irrevocable Power of Attorney
Can you elaborate more on this Irrevocable Power of Attorney? What is it for? In whose name or Power is it in? In what way does an Irrevocable Power of Attorney Grant a Buyer a good root of title legally in this situation? Who are the parties to this irrevocable power of attorney? What other title is a buyer supposed to have after this and what does he or she have to do to perfect their title and at what cost if any? undecided
PropertiesRe: How To Convert Square Meters To Acres Etc by lawyer(m): 10:13pm On Jun 26, 2009
Generally the Land Survey Department calculates each plot as Maximum 700 square meters even if you buy a plot of land which is less than 700 square meters e.g 578 sqms or 642 square meters.

They use this standard 700 square meters to measure and calculate your governor's consent fees even though it could be less than that.

Also 6 plots make one Acre, so its always best to get a surveyor from Alausa or the surveyor general's office to measure it for you thoroughly so as to avoid any future mago mago or miscalculation in your survey plan.

If your lucky enough to get a plot that is corner piece, i advice you to grab it immediately no matter the cost because its always more than 700 square meters but it will be calculated as one plot in your Governors consent calculations applications!
PropertiesRe: Property Humor: Finally Omoniles Were Able To Get Me And Force Me To Get Sick! by lawyer(op): 10:07pm On Jun 26, 2009
lol@ your comments

Thank you very much for your best wishes and i wish all of you the best of health as you go after your heart desires to achieve what you want for you and your families! cheesy

As for the dodgy estate agents, omoniles, crooked landlords, fake surveyors and property speculating liars and fraudsters, i have gone to Benin to gather more Bendel Insurance to tackle all of you one by one! So game on! grin

I will be more active on this forum and ask potential questions in every thread that i think users need to know more about so that you too can adequately know what to do and what to avoid!

Cheers!
AutosRe: 2004 Vw Passat 9ja Used V6 SOLD SOLD by lawyer(m): 9:59pm On Jun 25, 2009
teddy2t:
D last price is 1.1m
Actually he said it was 1.1M? undecided

Really confusing advert i must say?
PropertiesProperty Humor: Finally Omoniles Were Able To Get Me And Force Me To Get Sick! by lawyer(op): 9:54pm On Jun 25, 2009
You might have been wondering why i haven't been so regular for some weeks now. Well i guess the Omonile's i have been fighting have finally found a way to shoot me down with Malaria and Typhoid combined here by leading to me being hospitalized so that they can run loose to scam and defraud people to buy defective lands and pocket the money grin

Well all BAD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END   grin I am back and more determined to wipe them clean from the face of the planet so that people can sleep in peace grin For those who knew, thanks for your calls, care and support. It is truely appreciated! smiley

I Missed you all! wink

So what have i missed and show me the next Omonile to go and strangle!!!!!!!!! grin grin grin grin
PropertiesRe: Why In Nigeria and Nairaland Every Land for sale is Above N10 Million? Is there any Hope For Nairalanders who want to Buy Lands? by lawyer(m): 1:58am On Jun 18, 2009
Me sef I tire o!

Every time i see a property bulletin advert, it has to do with 10 Million, N50 Million, N500 Million, 1 Billion and Above! Who are they kidding? NL is an up and coming website for young and articulate Nigerians. How many People can afford a property worth N50Million and above on NL?

People on Nairaland are looking for Properties from the range of N300,000 to N5Million Maximum and some people are advertising Properties worth N650 Million as if people Vomit money every day to make up that N650 Million.

If not because i have pounded the streets and have found lands and acres of properties in LAGOS especially that Lekki/AJAH/OGOMBO/OKUN AJAH/SANGOTEDO Axis where i have seen properties and good lands from N1.5 Million to N3Million Maximum, i would have been thinking Nigeria only sells properties worth over N10Million hereby giving no hope to people who need to be landlords.

I dont take these people seriously and sometimes i wish i can delete their posts but its against the rules. The people posting Lands for N50 Million and above dont even have N50 in their pockets but they fill NL property with so much foolish property bulletins that it makes me sick in the stomach!

I dont know why we can't be our brother's keepers and help each other out by advertising Lands and Properties that we can all afford. I have no doubt if Posters source out lands that are within budget ranging from N500,000 to N3Million, they will have a Million and one clients and customers that will patronize them. Even the people who own lands in big places today didnt buy those lands at N50Million then and will never do except they have stolen Money or they have one large printing machine sourcing out money!

I am a realist and i will not pretend that Money is flowing everywhere, in fact those abroad are having a hard time trying to save money that is scarce and still thinking of coming home to invest and instead of encouraging them that there is hope, some people are posting properties worth N50 Million hoping to share 10% of N50Million to buy the latest Toyota Camry as their commission as if these our brothers and sisters abroad are not working hard trying to survive!

Although i made it a point of duty not to involve myself in marketing properties and leaving it to the agents but from today, i will make it my cardinal duty to start posting and marketing Cheap lands any where i see them for Nigerians at home and Abroad to purchase them and become land owners and encourage those who do like wise! NL agents are not being fair to our fellow Nairalanders and we should do every thing to help them become proud land owners and not discourage them with such bogus properties that are beyond the reach of majority of our Members here!

So Nairalanders, Look at this thread very well almost everyday and watch out for lands that are within your capacity and pocket power from N500,000 to N3Million. I will do my best to source them out so that you can contact the agents to follow it up!

Cheers!
RomanceRe: An appeal to My Nairaland Lover/stalker by lawyer(op): 5:28pm On Jun 17, 2009
Its as if i am not the only one that is being stalked/having an online unidentified lover on nairaland. I guess these are the risks for having your whole bio-data available for everyone to peruse undecided

Me thinks its one of those nairalist peeps! Because i dont understand why they can advertise that they need a lover and still play hide and seek with the person. Continuous flashings with hidden numbers, random email addresses and love letters that goes to a dud email if i reply back. .  Dang! I dont know how much i can keep up with this!

Once again Sista Woman, i ask, abi na u? grin Tell me make i love u back o! I for talk say na Mukina but she is married to Arsenal (No room for double dating)! grin

With over 30 love letter emails in 4 months unidentified, dont you or the person think, we should just graduate from the honey moon period to just making babies since that's the koko of the whole stalker lover thing?. . . lol  

Abeg Make Una Help me o!!!!!!!!
RomanceRe: An appeal to My Nairaland Lover/stalker by lawyer(op): 4:57pm On Jun 17, 2009
haaaaaaaaa, You chicks are very funny! No wonder The romance section is the most sought after with chicks like you cracking us up!

But to be frank no be small thing o! Approximately 3 times or more a day, i recieve an email from this chick stating how she knows me, appreciates me, wants to marry me blah blah blah. She even calls me using a hidden number and switches off after 5-10 seconds and instead of telling me her name, she will just say your nairaland admirer huh She uses multiple email addresses so its even hard to track her down with one and although she hasnt been rude or offensive in any way, its becoming quite scary.

Shey she no know say if she marry me, na 2 of us go de pursue omonile together for jungle? Me wey never chop belle full sef, and one admirer wan put san san for my garri!!!!!!!! grin grin grin grin

Abeg make una help me o! My inbox don de full with love letter o!
RomanceRe: An appeal to My Nairaland Lover/stalker by lawyer(op): 4:24pm On Jun 17, 2009
Abeg stillwater no yab me o! I no get the kin liver una de use collect shock absorber yabs here o! grin

Abi na u? . . lol
RomanceAn appeal to My Nairaland Lover/stalker by lawyer(op): 4:15pm On Jun 17, 2009
I Have been waiting all year for some one to just tell me who has been secretly sending me love messages to please reveal themselves but no one has come forth. I Beg una for NL no yab me o but please i would like to know that person and if you guys can help coerce that person i would be so appreciative!
SportsRe: Arsenals First 6 Fixtures For 2009/2010 Season Unveiled By Skysports by lawyer(op): 10:45pm On Jun 15, 2009
Proof! grin

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/8085/5uk0i81.jpg

I guess sky will take a lot of sh**t from the FA for being lax about it. . . lol
SportsArsenals First 6 Fixtures For 2009/2010 Season Unveiled By Skysports by lawyer(op): 10:36pm On Jun 15, 2009
West Ham United v Arsenal – Aug 15th

Arsenal v Burnley – Aug 22nd

Arsenal v Chelsea – Aug 29th

September:

Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal – Sept 12th

Liverpool v Arsenal – Sept 19th

Arsenal v Manchester City – Sept 26th

If arsenal loses just 2 of these matches within just 4 games into the season then i think its bye bye already for the title even before it starts. Arsenals Season has never been this difficult to start for a very long time! Is this a punishment for our past f**k ups huh
PropertiesRe: A-Z Of The Do’s And Don’ts Of Buying A Land Or Property In Lagos by lawyer(op): 2:37pm On Jun 12, 2009
Thanks for the kind comments and to answer your questions:

yanka:
Lawyer,

Read your very interesting piece. I have recently visited Masters Golden city at Ofada, like what i see and about to part with 700,000 for a plot of land. Been to the address Sim properties have advertised on their website (Magaodo) as their office. They will give me 2 copies of deed of lease and a purchase receipt.

Is there anything else to look out for b4 parting with the money ?
Hi Yanka,

As per your Masters Golden City at Ofada, very soon i am going to give a very damning report about those properties for sale in that axis and be as objective and yet truthful in respect of what is going on there and the level of misrepresentation going on but while some of them are still legally run, i will advise for you to inspect the place thoroughly and physically yourself and see the plot your being given and also in respect of the survey plan they want to give you, take your own surveyor there to map it out for you if need be and ask them for the following documents:

1. Copy of the Gazette where the large expanse of land has been handed over to them by the family and with the assent of the governor (Ogun state)

2. Deed of Assignment and not deed of lease because i dont know why they are leasing you a land that you have bought outrightly from them except they intend to take it away from you in future after your lease is up.

3. Survey plan (at least 6 copies with one logged in the surveyor general's office in Abeokuta)

4. Original Reciept signed by the company ie sim properties to you

But as a caveat be very careful in the mowe /ofada axis before you purchase a land there. Very Soon i am going to give my own report and reasons why that place should be thorougly regulated because a lot of half-truths and misrepresentation is abound there. So Oga Yanka be very careful!

ajileko:
@lawyer, I have a piece of land with a global C of O and the true certified copy. My question is can I apply for a building permit and start building ?
No problem Sir, Carry Go!

The best lands to buy in Lagos are usually the ones with a global C/O and it saves you the stress of getting one in your name and it covers you but it depends on how the lawyer investigates and researches it well enough to cover you in the deed of assignment.

So if you have the global C/O, there is nothing stopping you from getting your approved building plans. I even contacted a source in Alausa to Confirm again and it said it was valid but there are certain things that must accompany it.

1. The original recipet from the family

2. The survey plan in your name

3. The deed of assignment showing and stating the global C/O has been covered in your name including the beacon numbers

4. A copy of the C/O

Cheers!
EducationRe: Suing My University To Court: Any Hope Of Justice? by lawyer(m): 3:30pm On Jun 10, 2009
Yes o! Talk to your Lawyer o! grin
BusinessRe: Company Registration In Nigeria by lawyer(m): 3:11pm On Jun 10, 2009
ccfunjohn:
i want to register a business name,can anyone help me?
Go to the CAC office yourself and register it your self. Business Name registration is very simple and straight forward and will cost you less than N10,000 but if you use an agent or lawyer, you should be ready to shell out nothing less than N15,000. Its your choice. Business name registration is so cheap and easy but when the chips are down and business is about to take shape with investors and more money, a limited company will be the next thing to register and to me, that's penny wise pound foolish when you can just get the company registered for now, pay the costs, cover your eyes and use the company name for life and its benefits.

Well and then again, people are different and have specific wants, so follow your heart desires!
BusinessRe: Cost Of Incorporating A Ltd Company At CAC by lawyer(m): 2:58pm On Jun 10, 2009
the following may be useful:

fee to incorprate within 1 week (5 working days from the date of approval of the name)= N250,000
fee to incorprate within 2 weeks (10 working days from the date of approval of the name)= N200,000
fee to incorprate within 3 weeks (15 working days from the date of approval of the name)= N150,000
fee to incorprate within 4 week (20 working days from the date of approval of the name)= N100,000

if you are comfortable with my figures please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at arinnet08@gmail.com or kleandenation@yahoo.ca
shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked

WTF!

Where do you guys get these sordid and totally uncalled for figures to register a company? undecided This is big time fraud and i wont hesistate to recommend some people to be shot!

While i wont state the fees here because of personal reasons, i can truthfully say CAC filing fees and other ancillary things when considered revolve around N60,000 maximum.

So talking about N100,000-N250,000 is totally uncalled for when your duty is to advise nairalanders and not bleed them to death!
PhonesRe: Zain Up For Sale Again! by lawyer(m): 2:08pm On Jun 10, 2009
This is getting really ridiculous! A company with no stability and directors willing to cash out at every given opportunity says alot about the company and its so called objectives. I really feel sorry for the subscribers of the network and the company. Its just too incoherent for my liking. Even Nitel with all its problems dont swap names,directors and modus operandi like zain or econet or V-mobile or whatever its name is again! angry
PropertiesA-Z Of The Do’s And Don’ts Of Buying A Land Or Property In Lagos by lawyer(op): 1:51pm On Jun 10, 2009
DO’S AND DON’TS OF BUYING A LAND OR PROPERTY IN LAGOS:

Every day i get emails or phone Calls about the best way to buy a land in Lagos and the best way to go about it where you can buy it legally and avoid fraudsters. Well i have complied all your queries and questions and i will explain everything from the beginning to the end in a very simplified manner to help aid you in making your dreams come true without any hassles.

So Get your Coffees, Pencil and Paper and Read this very Thoroughly as if your Writing an Exam. If you can't finish it, Pause and Come back! No more being defrauded in Land Matters or you dont know what it entails to buy a land free from Wahala or Legal Problems grin

[size=18pt]CHAPTER 1[/size]

QUESTION: Lawyer, i have sat down, prayed for it and have raised some money and i desperately want to buy a land in Lagos but i am scared of falling into the wrong hands. Where do i start and what do i do first?

ANSWER: Firstly, congratulations on taking that big step to become a land owner. Its is the greatest beneficiary that you can ever own and possess which will continue to appreciate in value and something you can leave for your children which they will remember you for in eternity.

Its more valuable than clothes, cars and other accessories because, you will never have to pay any Landlord again to provide shelter for your self and family and your land will continue to appreciate in terms of value forever to provide other sources of income. So once more i congratulate you.

Now that you are ready,  the first thing you have to do is to decide where you would want to have your land located that you intend to purchase. Lagos State has 57 Local governments and Development Councils and virtually everywhere you look and go, you will see that it is fully occupied with houses, good and bad.

Location determines so many things when buying a land or property because you have to take into consideration so many things e.g accessibility to your place of work, your school or children’s school, accessibility to basic amenities, good road network and a host of many things. E.G, IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE  TO HAVE YOUR PLACE OF WORK IN VICTORIA ISLAND AND YOU INTEND TO BUY A LAND IN BADAGRY TO BUILD AND LIVE. Its just not feasible for you to be able to cope with the traffic gridlock, stress and time involved in shuttling around especially when you have to build and supervise. You will probably die of stress and exhaustion before the property has been completed. So Location is your number one factor or choice when you want to buy a house.

QUESTION: Okay Lawyer, i understand that location plays a big role and although i work in Ikoyi with a corporate firm and i will like to stay within that area and buy a property but my budget is only N3Million. How is that possible because i heard lands in Ikoyi or Victoria Island go for above N100 million. How can i eat my cake and have it. Does that mean until i have N100Million before i can buy a land in a good area?

ANSWER: No you don’t have to have N100Million before you can buy a land in Victoria Island or Ikoyi. What you have to understand is that in any environment, there are places called “High Catchment Areas” , Middle Catchment Areas and “Low Catchment Areas”.

A High catchment area is an area where you have a lot of amenities and infrastructure put in place and are preferred by a certain class of people because of the serenity, comfort and network of activities within that area. Areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Apapa, Banana Estate, Ikeja GRA, Opebi, Maryland, Gbagada, Festac Phase 2 etc all belong to the High catchment areas and because of the inherent infrastructures there, people are willing to pay a high premium price to enjoy that serenity. Its the government that decides to invest heavily in those areas to provide maximum comfort for its residents and therefore it places a hugh price tag for people to acquire the lands there. Bottom Line, its all about status thats why the price of getting a land there is above N50Million. 10 years ago, you could buy a land in Victoria Island for N8-N10million but today its above N100million and in the next 10 years that same plot of land will be above N500Million.

Middle Catchment Areas are areas that have a lot of good infrastructures but are also mixed with residents that are middle income earners or low income earners. Places like Lekki Phase 2, Surulere,, yaba, ikorodu etc. They have both the trappings of High Catchment Areas but are also besieged with poor infrastructure and a very high density of people clustered together. You will always see them divided into estates or communities trying to segregate themselves from the low income earners and prices of Land there can be between N5Million to N40million.

The low Catchment Areas as the name implies means there is a dearth of Infrastructure which makes it difficult for the inhabitants to really enjoy their homes and its very heavily populated. Being a low catchment area doesn’t mean its a place meant for the poor, on the contrary, a lot of successful people have lands there. It only means that instead of the government to provide the amenities desired, the community has to contribute money more than often to repair the roads, the estates, provide lightening etc but make no mistake about it, these so called catchment areas that were once looked down upon by people are now being sought after daily and the price keeps shooting up.

Example:
I remember my mom bought a land in Idimu for N5,000 somewhere in the early 90’s and we  were all complaining furiously why she should buy a land in a jungle where there were more accessible places like Isolo, Okota, Ajao Estate. 15 years later, that so called Jungle has turned into a swanky estate and a plot of land goes for above N15Million a pop. By the year 2020, i don’t know what that place will cost but i am sure N25Million wont be a bad estimate
So back to your question, it will be advisable not to look at Victoria Island but the closest Middle Catchment Area that is accessible to Ikoyi and i mean areas like Lekki Phase 2/Ajah/Badore/Ogombo/Okun Ajah/ Iran Nla/ Sangotedo etc. They might look quite far from Victoria Island Today but with the road expansions and link roads being developed by the government, it should take approximately 10 minutes to get to Ikoyi and your house very soon and the price of that place will definitely jump quadruple in the next 3 to 5 years. You just have to be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day but at the end of the day, the wait will be worth it because development and expansion is a necessity and must and you and your family will be the greatest beneficiaries in future.

Example:
I asked my office landlord who has 2 huge storey building structures in the heartland of Opebi Ikeja how he was able to acquire these properties. He told me that he bought those 6 plots of land in the early 80’s for N10,000 and he even borrowed to buy it. He told me that his friends discouraged him from buying it because that place was a jungle and his mates where in Festac or Ikoyi but he decided to take the risk and build it quietly and didn’t even know that there were plans to turned that place into a commercial business district and he built a small bungalow there to reside because his previous landlord was killing him with rent. When he heard the masterplan was to turn Opebi/Allen to a commercial district, he had to look for money to start building the storey buildings which he did for almost 8 years with his little funds.

Fastforward to 2009, my landlord has almost 50 office space to let combined in the 2 story buildings and 2 warehouse ground floors which he rents one to a bank and the other one to a big fast food restaurant. Each Office Space goes for Minimum N350,000 a year. Do the maths times 50 offices and calaculate how much he gets for the bank and fast food joint a year.
So don’t ever despair that where you have purchased isn’t habitable or profitable in future because you never know tomorrow and how lucky you might be above anyone else.


The basic truth is that children will grow up to be adults, people will always migrate, people will always want shelter and comfort and places that were hereto known as bushes or too far end up becoming high catchment areas eg Isheri Olofin, Okooba, Ikotun, Akowonjo, Ikorodu and in the forceeable future lands across the lekki/epe express road.


QUESTION: Okay, i have grasped the sense in buying a land that is accessible to my work place within my budget and i know tomorrow will be a better day, so what next do i do?

ANSWER: The next thing is to start shopping for estate agents, buying property bulletin newspapers, check nairaland properties for sale and begin to peruse all of them to see where you might get a land or property within your budget . Just the way you would go to a market and price and price and look for the best deal and product, thats the way you would continue to shop and price with agents till you are satisfied. NEVER EVER LET AN ESTATE AGENT RUSH YOU INTO BUYING HIS PROPERTY! angry

An agent is only out for his commission and will do anything to sell that land to you but you must learn to haggle and ask questions and continue to ask Questions to know more about the area, location, accessibility, the asking price, the price of other lands around it and any legal problems or liens attached to the land.

When ever you are asking an agent about the property and you are forceful to get answers and you notice the agent is either hiding information, getting angry at you for asking too much questions, being grumpy that you are probing him to cautiously, that is a red flag sign for you to cut off with that agent and move to the next one.

An agent that is not ready to provide you will 100% valid and concrete answers is not ready to deal with you truthfully and that’s usually the first stage of being defrauded in a land transaction. Just like a sales man that comes into your office and is angry with you for probing too much about his company is just the same way you must be forthright when asking them questions. Never leave out any detail and continue to probe. If your not satisfied, just walk away and ring up the next agent. The land the agent probably wanted to sell to you was extremely desirious in your eyes and to you worth the money but that same land is fraught with a lot of booby traps and wahala that your head can’t carry in future and once you pay him, its bye-bye. No refund.

So it is always advisable to have 3 or more agents to cross check and investigate their lands thoroughly before you settle for one.

QUESTION: Whoa slow down lawyer, there are so many things you have revealed that i am confused about.

1. How do i identify an Agent and know which one is fake or real?

2. What kind of questions do i ask him about the land in question?

3. How do i go about chasing agents and investigating lands because i really don’t have the time besides i am in New york but i need a land badly.

4. Also i met one agent and he told me about a land that i might like but he told me that 2 other people are interested in that land and i have to pay immediately. What can i do?


ANSWER: Okay let me take them one by one:

1.  How do i identify an Agent and know which one is fake or real?

To be truthful, its not the easiest job on the planet to differentiate between all the accredited agents and the quacks but there are subtle signs for you to know which is which. They are divided into these various categories:

a. Registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers: These group of Agents have a nationally recognized body saddled with the role of valuing properties and selling lands. They are usually accredited with the national body and recognized and they are USUALLY the best source to go to for a property sale because they are recognized and have a large volume of properties for sale. They are usually trustworthy because of their intergrity which they need to protect and experience and they include the famous ones like Jide taiwo, diya fatimlehin &co, Paul Osuji, Bola Onabanjo etc. The disadavantage of using them is that because of their excellent and premium services, you have to pay huge commissions to them and its a choice people prefer so that they can sleep well at night.

b. DIRECT AGENTS: Direct Agents are Agents that have a first hand direct contact with the seller of the property.

E.g  I have a land to sell and i contact Mukina 2 to help me find a buyer for the land and will pay her commission for marketing it and finding a buyer. Mukina 2 automatically becomes the direct agent to me the owner of the property because i the owner of the property has contracted her to sell it. In return, Mukina2 will ask me to draft a power of Attorney in her name giving her the right to market the Property and finding a buyer in exchange for a commission if the sale goes through.

c. THIRD PARTY AGENTS: A third party Agent is an Agent who has no direct contact with me the owner of the land but has a friendly or cordial relationship with the direct Agent Mukina 2. Mukina 2 then instructs the third party agent lets say Debosky as the third party agent to also scout for buyers to buy my property in exchange, Whenever there is a sale, the commission Mukina 2 gets directly from me the seller would be split between Mukina and Debosky.

Remember that me as the owner of the property has no direct relationship or contact with Debosky and if i am dealing with anyone, its Mukina first and foremost and i have no obligation to Debosky even though it was Debosky that brought the buyer and its between Mukina 2 and Debosky to share their commission and if anything goes wrong, its Mukina2 that should be held accountable because i didn’t instruct her to delegate duties except she told me in advance that she intends to do so.

d. FOURTH PARTY AGENTS: A fourth party agent is one who is friends with Debosky the third party agent and 2 of them end up discussing the property sale and Debosky instructs that fourth party lets say his name is Promise72. Promise 72 goes out to discuss the sale with another agent H$LBroker and instructs him to find a buyer and H$LBroker discusses with Spikecylinder and Mr Crackles and Mr Crackles ends up getting a buyer all the way from Ireland to buy the land and the buyer is interested.

Remember now there is a very very Huge Chain Involved in that sale in respect of the Agents involved. From the last count we have 6 Agents all involved in the sale for just one property i.e Mukina 2, > Debosky, > Promise72, >H$LBroker. . . .>Spiked Cylinder, >Mr Crackles.

I as the owner of the property is only responsible to Mukina 2 and Mukina 2 is only Responsible to Debosky and Debosky is responsible to the rest.

[b]1. Now its from this Chain you begin to know who is who and how influential and trustworthy they are in respect of the sale. Most Agents until you probe them won’t tell you they are either third party or fourth party Agents. This is usually the first way to determine who they are.

2. Most agents apart from the direct Agent won’t have the certified true copy of the land documents in their possession for inspection and investigation. Rather they will have photocopies of bits and pieces of the documents in their possession to use and market the property. Because of the loose and careless way some agents are, these photocopies of the documents always end up in the hands of the wrong person who would come out to claim that they are the original and direct Agents and this is stage 2 of being defrauded.

3. Most 3rd party Agents don’t know the history of the property, the address or the landlord of the house. They only know how much the land is going for and the documents involved and usually are in possession of bits and pieces of information of the property because they even don’t have access to the direct Agent talkless of the real owner.

4. Most of the Fourth Party Agents can’t take you to meet the direct owner and will give you all sorts of excuses to avoid taking you to meet the land owner. This is stage 3 step of being defrauded. How can you sell what you don’t have?[/b]

I’ll give you a classic true story example.

There was this Client from Nairaland i was representing to buy a property for wink. He met the agent online and they were into intensive discussion even before i was contacted and he kept on assuring the Client that the property was genuine and he was the direct Agent to the seller of the property. The moment i was contracted to follow up the due diligence, Wahala and Trouble started for the agent because i began to do the follow up investigation. While the property in question existed because i inspected it 2 times and did a follow up search at the Land Registry which showed the property indeed was existing with a C/O, the problem came when i said i wanted to see the owner of the property physically.

Unknown to the agent, he didn’t know that at the land registry there is a picture of every body who has a property registered as a certificate of occupancy and you have to do diligent search to get a copy of that picture which i deliberately hid from the Agent.

The Agent kept on telling me that he had the power of Attorney to sell the property on behalf of the owner because the Owner travelled to Scotland and she was desirious of selling it quickly and she wont be back before March. This was sometime last Year December and i told the Agent that When the woman comes back, he should call me and we will take it up from there.

The Agent warned me that by that time the property would have been sold and i ended up telling him to sell it to who ever but if it is still available by March when the woman comes, he should get in touch.
The client was apprehensive that the property will go because he liked it and wanted to buy it but i counselled him to excercise patience and see what will happen and if it goes, we would find a better one. By the first week of January, the Agent called me again and said that the owner decided to come back to Nigeria to come and conclude the transaction  personally and she didn’t want to wait till April. At this point i laughed because i knew one beautiful drama was coming up and i wanted to witness it to the very end.   

When i met the agent, he told me that the owner wanted me to draft a letter of offer and deposit it with her lawyer so that we take it up from there. I said good, lawyers are good things, so i drafted the letter and arranged to meet the lawyer personally. The next day, the Agent called that i can’t meet the lawyer again because he had a case in portharcourt but he will take me to meet the woman but i have to excercise patience since the woman is in Abuja. I just kept on laughing and meanwhile he was still encouraging me to deal with him personally and kept on showing me documents about the land.

I played the fool until a week later he said he was ready to take me to meet the owner in Ikoyi. We went to Ikoyi and after 30 minutes, a woman came out introducing herself as the owner. Unknown to her, i had already crammed the face of the woman in the c/o thoroughly and trust me, they weren’t identical in what ever manner and form. I listened to her and kept my cool and knew i was about to be scammed but i had the better of them. She now told me to wait for her lawyer to come back in two weeks time so that they can finalize everything. I took the lawyers credentials reluctantly and immediately called the number on the card to confirm. A man answered me and said it was true that he is the lawyer in charge but he is in markurdi doing a case but he will be back next week (Notice how Portharcourt changed to Markudi and 2 weeks time change to next week) grin?

I decided to go straight to the lawyer’s office to make more inquiries. When i got there, i said i wanted to buy a land and described the same property. All of a sudden a big hefty lawyer came out to shake me saying he is the lawyer in charge of the property and his client wants to sell the land but he has the power of attorney to sell it and showed it to me. He asked me how i knew about the property and his office, i then related the whole story to him. When he listened to me thoroughly, he advised me to bring the agent to his office. The next day, i called the agent that my client was ready to pay but we have to get authorization from his accountant. The Agent hurriedly followed me and when he got there, he realised the game was up.

Apparently the lawyer’s clerk had the opportunity to see the documents of the property for sale that my Client was interested in and he hurriedly told his friends that he had a land to sell personally and a friend of the clerk contact this Agent and gave him photocopies of the land documents and he began to parade himself as the owner and when he found my client as a potential buyer, he quickly organized his friends to play the part of the Owner and the Owner’s lawyer. The real Lawyer quickly interrogated the Agent in my presecence about how he know about the documents and whether he has met the owner before or himself which he denied knowing anybody except the clerk’s friend. He didn’t even know the clerk personally to make matters worse. It was at this juncture i advised my client to forget the whole property for sale and i wont prosecute that transaction because foul play smells stinkingly around it. Today he is a proud owner of a peaceful beautiful home where he can sleep for the next 100 years without wahala. Bottom line never ever be afraid to investigate what you want to buy.One mistake and your doomed for life!    Always ask for the certified true copy of the documents for inspection and ask who the direct Agent is so that you can interrogate him more.
QUESTION 2: What kind of questions do i ask him about the land in question?

ANSWER: Plenty Questions. Start with anything or about anything to get to know him personally. Study his character, his movements, his words and get to know the history about the property. Most smooth talkers will probably smooth your way into hell. Always be very sceptical and never optimistic. Study his complimenatary cards, his office (Know his office) look at it whether it is sparsely furnished made for a quick business to close immediately after you have been scammed. Let them tell you every thing about the land and the documents. Get to know their relationship with the land owner so that you can easily discern which party they are either 1st, 2nd, third or fourth party agents. Until you get to the direct agent leading to the owner, always take everything with a pinch of salt.

Collect the photocopies of the document and keep them to hand over to your lawyer to do the search if it exists or not. Never ever skimp or feel stingy over due process search fees. It could either make or mar you. Once you get to the land in question, feel free to feel at home since it might be your new home to consult with the neighbours and get to know more about the landlord or the history of the area. Never feel shy or timid to do that unless your shyness will lead you to hell on earth. They probably know better than the agent so its your first call to discover who the true landlord is.

If your not satisfied after all this walk away. Lagos has Millions of land waiting for someone to buy it.Its not by force to buy that particular Agents own.

QUESTION 3: How do i go about chasing agents and investigating lands because i really don’t have the time besides i am in New york but i need a land badly.

ANSWER: Well scout for People you trust and Property Lawyers who know their Onions and are ready to  stick to their principles and do due diligence. Also ask these Lawyers for references and ask Thousands of Questions just the way you would ask Agents Questions. Always document everything emails, phone calls, text messages, recipets everything. Never just hook up to anybody or lawyer without checking that person. We have loads of shady people including lawyers.

I’ll give you an example of how some lawyers would treat your manner and in no circumstances should you condone such nonsense. E.g for a C/O or Governor’s consent search, he should show you the recipet and give you a detailed explanation of the report of the C/O at the land registry in writing either via email or through a letter. Some lawyers just collect the money and after 2 hours call the person that the C/O is a good title and walk away with the money not minding whether it is defective or there is a problem.

Some lawyers never visit the property physically to inspect it themselves and give their own professional opinion. Thats not a god thing because the client rests his opinion on the lawyer’s observations. undecided

Some lawyers never seem to interrogate the Agent or Landlord to get to the root of the matter to know who is lying and who is being truthful and would just recommend anything to get their commission. undecided

Some lawyers don’t even know how to detect a fraudulent surveyplan and how to read one talkless of advising the client on what steps the client should take with the survey plan. Ignore such people from day one. undecided

Some lawyers don’t even know where the property they want to buy on behalf of their client is and would just take a sample document of a property sold adjacent to that house, photocopy it and appendix their signature and walk away with their 10%. Thats not good. Never allow a lawyer take you through that joy ride.  undecided

He/She must earn her legal fees 120%.

A person like me will take you through the whole process and fulfil your job till your satisfied before i get paid. Any lawyer asking you for immediate money or deposit for this or that without completing the job is just a hack. No work no Fees. If they continue to barge you about money from day one, know your dealing with a shark and from there onwards, i can’t shout!

QUESTION: 4. Also i met one agent and he told me about a land that i might like but he told me that 2 other people are interested in that land and i have to pay immediately. What can i do?

Tell him to go and sell it to those people and you wont buy it until you have finished your due diligence angry.

Never part with Money or deposit till you are sure the property is free from defect and you have done the Investigation and its only when your ready to do the survey of the land that you pay a 10% deposit to secure the place until the surveyor is through before the rest is being transfered to you.

Never ever feel threatened or harassed with that line “ Other people are interested in the property and are ready to buy it immediately” Trust me, if there were other people interested in it, he wont be selling it to you but to the other person or he intends to make a larger commission off you by increasing the price. If not, go at your own pace and money. That land will still be there if it is truely yours.

QUESTION: Okay Lawyer, I get the way Estate Agents work, but i have only N2 Million what and where can i get a land i like within that Price and within a location that is not too far?

ANSWER: There are so many Places to shop for Lands either on the Mainland and Island for lands under Budget. The mainland is clustered and its unless you get into the depths of Mainland Lagos before you see a land of that price but right now the

Lekki /Ajah Express way has lands within N1Million to N5million Max within Budget. The places i know personally that i have seen physically that you can get a plot of Land for N1.8million, N2million, N3Million etc include [b]Okun Ajah,Lands besides Alpha Beach, Ogombo and Sangotedo with a Global C/O. For those that don’t know these places, it starts from 3 minutes after Victoria Garden City, After the Ajah Garage Round About, After Abraham Adesanya Estate but before Lagos Business School and beyond. The further you go up till Eleko, you will see lands for N500,000 Because development is a little bit slow but by Next year, i know it will rise 50 times higher because of this Eko Atlantic City thing they want to do from Late this year. So it depends on the agent you meet and negotiate with who will sell it to you at a favourable price[/b] but be careful to avoid greedy agents who want to capitalise on the Eko Atlantic Thing and triple the price. Ask questions and seek good counsel before you proceed to negotiate pricing.

QUESTION: Okay, i am interested in Buying a Land in Ogombo with N2.5Maximum and i have investigated it and it seems okay, should i now write my check to the Agent?

ANSWER: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! shocked

Dont even try it by mistake! What do you mean you have done your investigation and your ready to pay him? angry

Trust me. All the investigations you have done personally is just a stage one Investigation to know more about the property and landlord. Your not even half way there yet! You have to understand the tricks and title a property has before you even attempt to part with your hard earned money and everything can be traced back to the LAND USE ACT OF 1978.

The LAND USE ACT VESTS LAND IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNOR and no one else. (Learn How the Land Use Act Affects you)

This gives the governor the power to allocate Land to who so ever as long as they have completed the due process with the Land Registry. Now Lagos is a big state with so many traditional families that own and have excercised dominion over these lands for Hundreds and Thousands of Years and these lands were obtained from their forefathers either through family succession, conquests in wars, land disputes, court grants and orders and gifts.

So before the land use act, the different families would sell land arbitrarily to who ever they want and still lay claim to portions of it but with the Land Use Act in 1978, Property became vested in the Governor of the state and its the Governors that gives anybody the right of occupancy for you to have that land, no longer the traditional families as the last bustop. With this in Mind, the Military administrators took advantage of this law and began to reclaim lands under the name of the governor and for you to own it, you had to go through the governor.

This led to the Maroko example that has transformed into Lekki Phase 1 and a host of other areas in Lagos. In return for seizing or forcefully taking the lands, the government is required to pay compensation to the land owners or resettle the displaced owners and in most situation, the government doesn’t settle the land owners because they bring out a clause from the land use act that all lands must be registered before they can claim compensation.

This led to a loud outcry by the traditional families who have excercised total dominion over these lands and they were the worst hit and had to take the government to court, argue, fight and scream at each other until they came to a reasonable conclusion that works well with all parties.


Result of the Outcome of the Land Use Act and The Families and How it Affects you in buying a Land in Lagos:

1. Government was still the owner of all the lands but it will excise some lands to the traditional family. This excised lands means they are free from Government acquisition in future and the traditional Families have total control over the sale of those lands. Lands that the government has plans to develop in future such as the Eko Atlantic City, Lands where the Government intends to create Bridges, Pass Pipeline or Power lines etc will be acquired in advance and will not be suitable for sale because they have plans to use those places. So because of that, they call places like that Under Government Acquisition.

2. In return, the Government will publish a gazette from time to time showing which lands have been excised and given to the family and community and which ones are under government Acquisition.

3. These Lands that are free from Acquisition gives the family the right to sell these lands to who whatso ever but with a clause. They are to issue the buyer a proof of family receipt directly from the family and sign the Form 1c. The Form 1c is a document a property owner who intends to sell his property to another person must have and be signed by the family unless the government will never recognize that a sale has taken place and can acquire it at anytime because they is no proof at the land registry that such a person has come to register it.

4. With this arrangement, the family and the government is happy because they will get their money for the sale of the land and for signing the documents and the government is happy too because you will have to come and perfect your title.
Now with this small History, you now see why it is important to know the family selling to you and the kind of receipt they are going to give you.
Every good thing surely has bad influences around, thats where the Omonile Factor comes in. Because people don’t do diligence and know who to investigate who and who is a member of the original family, they resort to doing business with crooks who claim to be the representatives of the family and they end up giving them money and the omoniles issue them fake and unsubstantiated receipts and when they get to the land registry, it will show that the receipt is fake and has no standing to perfect the title and to trace the omonile and money back is a major problem.

The due diligence in scouting for the family is one of the most difficult things to do on the planet and the lawyer doing it for you must have spare time on his hands to devote that time to you. Before a receipt or land document is declared to be valid, the HEAD OF THE FAMILY AND SECRETARY of the family must sign it. One cannot sign in the absence of another for it to be valid. They have to be the true members of the family before they can issue you a recipet.

Also the some families who had 100s of Hectares of Land went to the governor to ask for their lands to be excised and gazetted. While the governor might take 20 hectares of Land from them and leave 80 hectares (An Acre is 6 plots and a Hectare is 16 plots) for the family, the governor might decide to help them perfect their documents at once and issue them one C/O covering the whole 80 Hectares of Land. So anybody buying within that 80 Hectares automatically has a C/O in his name and the recipet from the original family members they could be up to 20 signatories depending on the area and number of families that the C/O covers and the deed of assignment signed by them and the Form 1c. If one signatory is missing, there is no valid transfer to possession of the land. (They are that strict).

So now that you know the basics of the family these are the steps to take before buying a Land in Lagos:

Step 1 You have to first and fore most discover who the family is, know who is who, determine if the place already has a global c/o (Which in my own opinion is usually the best lands to buy), get them to agree to sign the form 1c, deed of assignment and recipet, agree on the price apart from the price of buying the land for the family to sign the recipet and form 1 c and move to step 2. wink

Step 2 involves doing a search at the land registry to discover whether the survey plan and the other documents tally and are not under government acquisition.(Very Important Unless Omo-Onile will eat you raw here!)

Step 3 involves confirming it is free and negotiating the last price for the property and the signing of the documents.

Step 4 Involves getting the surveyor (Better an Alausa Surveyor in my own opinion) to come and survey the place and map it out to do your survey in your own name. It usually Costs between N120,000-N120,000 for the survey plans. No pricing. The price is fixed except your son is a surveyor in Alausa. In return your entitled to 7 copies of the survey plan and six will be returned to you. 2 in cloth copy and 4 in paper form while the last one will be lodged at the Land registry and charted. This copy is known as the red copy and you cannot perfect your documents without that red copy in Alausa. If you haven’t done it and it has no record there, to do the charting will costs you some heavy money. So its better to do it once and for all using a certified professional.

After that, the Surveyor must come to the land in question and place the beacons around the 4 corners of the land. Those beacons show that the corners of your land and measurement and nobody on this planet can lay claim to it except you.

5. Step  Involves drafting of the deed of assignment, purchase recipet and purchase agreement for the families to sign and the form 1c.
Step 6. When the families have finished signing all the documents in exchange for the fees they demanded then your the proud owner of a land in lagos after they have been handed over to you.

Step 7: You now deal with when and how you are ready to perfect your title by either doing the c/o or governor’s consent to know which one is applicable.

Step 8: You send my invitation letter to come for the house warming and plate of Rice. . . lol!    grin

Am very Tired Now! I'll work on Chapter 2 Concerning Why it makes sense to buy a Land with a Global C/o instead of a property with just only Survey Plan and Deed of Assignment Unregistered so that you can save money and legal Problems!

Comments and Questions are truely Welcome! wink

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