₦airaland Forum

How well do you know Criminal and Civil Laws in Nigeria? Let's discuss.

While terrorists are having a field day in the north

essentialone:
Happening Now: Nigeria Army lay siege on Ukpor in Anambra; Citizens flee town

Are you from there?

Days like this is meant to come to pass

Fahdiga:
While terrorists are having a field day in the north

The north is another country entirely

essentialone:
Happening Now: Nigeria Army lay siege on Ukpor in Anambra; Citizens flee town

and athur eze is there.

obiekunie01:
and athur eze is there.

Arthur is from Ukpo not Ukpor.

What is the difference?
Is it the R ?

ciencee:
What is the difference?
Is it the R ?

Yes. The R stands for River

Nawa o

ciencee:
What is the difference?
Is it the R ?

Ukpo is pronounced O as in open
Ukpor is pronounced OR as in organ

FreeIgboho:
Ukpo is pronounced O as in open
Ukpor is pronounced OR as in organ

Yeah

My husband is now a King and in less than five months on the throne

One BIG man in the community, gave my husband his daughter as a Gift to marry.

My husband rejected the offer but the Chiefs are saying it's a Taboo to reject such gift

I told the Chiefs that we are married under the Act but, they say it's their tradition

The king will get many wife as a Gift and i do not have the power to stop it and the King himself can not reject such offer.

Does it mean Our Statutory marriage is cancelled because my husband is now a King?

I just opened a shop right in front of my husbands building where i sell hots and alcoholic drinks because there is a brothel right in front of my house and thats the business that will move very well.

The community chairman and Landlords Association came to meet me that they don't want such business in their community

They gave me an agreement form stating that i will not sell such drink in their community.

I refuse to sign and ask them why they did not close down the brothel, the chairman said the brothel has CAC and i showed him my CAC too.

They threaten me that they give me 14 days to comply with the community order and directives before they do what i may not like

Pls advice me on what to do

Does the Landlord and Tenant Association has the right to dictate what kind of business i can sell or not?

Your Electric Fence is meant to shock the Thief and not Kpai them under Nigerian Law or else, FR££ stony beans for you

Before you install that electric fence bah, come closer cos you fit chop FR££ stony beans because of that electric fence wey you put for your house

There are rules and regulations to follow when installing electric fence in Nigeria, if you fail to follow the rules, FR££ stony beans for you

1. The peak voltage should not exceed 10,000V (10kV)

2. The shock must be a brief pulse (usually lasting about 0.0003 seconds) occurring no more than once per second. This allows a person to let go and prevents the continuous current that causes heart failure and kpai the person.

3. You must put a warning sign that says, Caution: Electric Fence.

4. The electric cables must be 6.5 ft above ground level to prevent accidental contact by children or passersby.

If you fail to comply with the above requirements and do something that will kpai the Thief and someone trying to trespass into your property

You will Eat FR££ stony beans for kpaing that person

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you aware of this?

Your CCTV cam, caught a thief in your house or office and you now choose to post the footage online.

Wetin carry you post am online when the court never confirm the Thief say e dey Gui'lty

🤣🤣🤣🤣, one chance

Drop your evidence in court, not online

Don't forget,
That thief is still innocent before the law and the court may grant the thief bail.

When the court grants the thief Bail, if the TIF no carry Any Arm for the stealing, dem go grant am bail

The thief can file a suit against you for LIBEL/DEFAMATION for damaging his or her reputation online and breach of his fundamental human right and also, cyberstalking

The thief has the right to Demand for damages up to one trillion Naira from you.

No go believe say because say you get CCTV footage

If the TIF get better lawyer, e fit come out innocent oooo

Even a TIF has his own rights as a citizen of this great country and you must respect it or pay damages for breaching his right

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you aware of this?

My Landlord passed away two months ago and my rent expired that same month.

There has been disputes on who to collect the rent.

My Landlord married three wife with many children

Each wife and their children came to hold meetings with the tenants, saying we are to pay our rent to them

The other party will come and say we shouldn't pay to them that, they are the right person to collect the rent

Another party served us Notice to Quit and another party said we should ignore the Notice to Quit.

I am confused on who to pay to and i don't want find my self in one chance situation at the end of the day

Pls, what do you suggest i do and who do you suggest i pay to?

A Thief (intruder) Jumps over your fence, into your Building and your DOG attacked and Kpai the thief, you will eat FR££ Stony Beans.

Normal Dogs don't kpai a Thief, they disarm them.
Ask anyone around who have Dogs at home, Dogs don't k1LL.
Dogs are not wild animals, they don't k1LL human beings

The moment your Dogs k1LLs human being, that's not a Dog anymore and you as the owner will Eat FR££ stony Beans for training wild animal as a Dog in diguise

The only thing that can save you a bit is, if the Intruder (Thief) is armed.
As in the TIF carry kala enter, the law may now consider the force proportional to the action of the Dog.

Or the Intruder kpai as a result of fear or had injury that led to his D£@th when running away from the Dog.

But if the Intruder (Thief) no carry Gvn or any Arm enter and your Dog kpai the Thief.
The force is not proportional

You will Eat FR££ stony beans as the owner

Pls take note

The law values life so much and doesn't give anyone the right to take another person's life

So, any form of defence you are putting up in your house, make sure it doesn't kpai the Thief (intruder) or threat facing you.

Your defense should be built to disarm only, not to kpai

You may not like the position of the law, but the law is not emotional.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you aware of this?

I was performing my duties as a dispatch rider to deliver a parcel to a residence. Upon arrival, the customer requested that I bring the package inside.

I expressed concern regarding their dog, which was moving around restlessly, but the owners assured me the dog was friendly and only wanted to play with me.

They gave me assurance that their dog don't bite.

​Relying on their assurances, I entered the premises. However, the dog was moving close to me and was looking me somehow and i knew the dog was about to attack me.

So i had to take off immediately and the dog followed me immediately.

Fearing for my safety, I attempted to retreat. In the process, I slipped and struck my head violently against the gate, sustaining a serious injury.

Despite the incident occurring on their property due to their dog's behavior, the owners have refused to provide assistance for my medical expenses, claiming the accident was my fault for running.

I want to know if i can sue them for compensation.

Are you aware of this?

essentialone:
My husband is now a King and in less than five months on the throne

One BIG man in the community, gave my husband his daughter as a Gift to marry.

My husband rejected the offer but the Chiefs are saying it's a Taboo to reject such gift

I told the Chiefs that we are married under the Act but, they say it's their tradition

The king will get many wife as a Gift and i do not have the power to stop it and the King himself can not reject such offer.

Does it mean Our Statutory marriage is cancelled because my husband is now a King?

*Short answer: No, your statutory marriage is not automatically cancelled because your husband became King.*

Here’s how it works in Nigeria:

*1. The law vs tradition*
- *Statutory marriage “under the Act”:* That’s the Marriage Act. It’s monogamous by law. While married under the Act, your husband cannot legally contract another valid marriage with anyone else. Doing so is bigamy under Section 370 of the Criminal Code, punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment.
- *Traditional/customary marriage:* Polygamy is allowed under most customary laws. A King taking wives is common in many traditions. Chiefs often expect it.
- *Conflict rule:* In Nigeria, where statutory law and custom clash, statutory law prevails in court. Your Marriage Act certificate doesn’t disappear because of a chieftaincy title. The courts will still recognize you as his only legal wife.

*2. “Taboo to reject the gift” — what that means*
The Chiefs are asserting custom. In many communities, offering a daughter to a new King is a political alliance, and rejecting it can be seen as insult/disrespect to the donor family. That’s the cultural pressure. But “taboo” is not Nigerian law. Taboos don’t override the Marriage Act or Criminal Code.

*3. Can the King/husband be forced?*
No one can legally force him into marriage. Customary pressure is real and can be intense, but he has agency. If he goes through a customary marriage while your Act marriage exists, that second marriage is void in law. The “gift” wife would not have legal spousal rights to inheritance, pensions, etc., that you have as legal wife.

*4. What doesn’t happen:*
- Your marriage certificate is not cancelled
- You don’t lose your status as legal wife
- Your children don’t lose legitimacy
- Your rights to property, next-of-kin, inheritance under law remain

*5. What could happen in practice*
If he yields to pressure and does a traditional ceremony:
1. Legally: That marriage is void. You can sue for bigamy or jactitation of marriage.
2. Traditionally: The community may recognize her as “wife” or “Oloori.” She’d have customary status, not legal status.
3. Risk: Disputes later over inheritance, titles for children, palace politics.

*6. Options people in your shoes consider*
1. *Unified front:* If he truly rejects it, you both hold that line. Kings have rejected wives before. The “taboo” is social, not legal. Consequence may be community friction, but not jail.
2. *Legal clarity:* Consult a family law lawyer in your state now. Get written advice you can show Chiefs if needed. Sometimes a lawyer’s letter citing bigamy cools pressure.
3. *Mediation:* Bring in respected elders, your families, or a lawyer who understands both custom and statute to negotiate. Often the “gift” can be received as an honorary title without marriage.
4. *Document everything:* Keep your marriage certificate safe. If a traditional ceremony is forced, record who, when, where.
5. *Protection:* If pressure turns to threats or coercion, that’s a separate legal issue.

*Bottom line:* Tradition cannot cancel your statutory marriage. Only death, divorce by court order, or annulment ends it. The Chiefs are using custom to pressure, but they don’t have legal power to void your marriage or compel your husband.

This is deeply personal and the social stakes are high. If you want, tell me your state — customary law differs across Nigeria — and I can flag specific provisions or groups that help women in similar palace situations.

You’re not powerless here. The law is on your side, even if tradition is loud.

essentialone:
I just opened a shop right in front of my husbands building where i sell hots and alcoholic drinks because there is a brothel right in front of my house and thats the business that will move very well.

The community chairman and Landlords Association came to meet me that they don't want such business in their community

They gave me an agreement form stating that i will not sell such drink in their community.

I refuse to sign and ask them why they did not close down the brothel, the chairman said the brothel has CAC and i showed him my CAC too.

They threaten me that they give me 14 days to comply with the community order and directives before they do what i may not like

Pls advice me on what to do

Does the Landlord and Tenant Association has the right to dictate what kind of business i can sell or not?

*1. Do Landlords/Tenants Association or Community Chairman have legal power to ban your business?*
*No, not by themselves.* They are not a government regulator. They can’t legally “order” you to close or dictate what you sell. Only bodies with statutory backing can do that:
- *Local Government* – issues trade permits, health/sanitation licenses, and can regulate premises
- *State govt agencies* – e.g. Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, or State Liquor Licensing Board
- *NAFDAC, SON* – for product standards
- *Police* – if you’re breaking criminal law

A Landlords Association is a voluntary/community group. Their “agreement form” has no legal force unless you sign it and make it a contract. If you don’t sign, it’s just a letter.

*2. Why they can’t force you but are trying anyway*
They’re using social/community pressure. “14 days or do what you may not like” sounds like a threat. If that means vandalism, harassment, or illegal closure, that would be criminal — threatening violence, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, or malicious damage.

*3. The brothel vs your shop issue*
You pointed out the key contradiction. If the brothel has CAC, that just means it’s registered with Corporate Affairs Commission. CAC registration ≠ license to operate. Brothels are generally illegal under Nigerian criminal law — Section 225A Criminal Code prohibits keeping a brothel. So if it’s truly a brothel, the Chairman claiming “they have CAC” is either misinformed or covering for them.

Your CAC also doesn’t automatically permit alcohol sales. You still need:
1. *Local govt liquor license/permit* – most LGAs require this to sell alcohol
2. *Business premises permit* from LGA
3. *Compliance with state liquor laws* – some states restrict alcohol near schools, churches, palaces, or ban it entirely
4. *Health/sanitation compliance*

If you have those, you’re operating legally. If you don’t, the LGA — not the Landlords Association — is the one to enforce.

*4. What to do right now*

*Immediate steps:*
1. *Don’t sign anything* under pressure. Once signed, it can be used against you.
2. *Get your licenses in order today:* Go to your Local Government Secretariat, ask for Business Premises Permit + Liquor License. If you already have them, make copies. This is your legal shield.
3. *Document everything:* Write down dates/times of their visits, names, what was said. Record future visits if safe/legal. Keep the “agreement form” they gave you.
4. *Petition/report the threat:* “Do what you may not like” is a threat. You can write a petition to the DPO of your local police station stating you’re being threatened by the Chairman and Association. Get it stamped ‘received’. This creates a record if they act.

*If they act after 14 days:*
1. If they lock your shop, touch your goods, or harass you: call police immediately. That’s malicious damage/criminal trespass.
2. You can sue for trespass and damages. Their association has no power of enforcement.

*5. Practical politics*
Law is on your side, but community battles are messy. Consider:
1. *Dialogue with one neutral elder* – explain you’ll comply with all govt licenses, same standard they hold the brothel to. Sometimes pressure drops if they see you won’t be bullied but will follow law.
2. *Lawyer’s letter:* A 1-page letter from a lawyer to the Chairman stating that your business is CAC registered, you’ll obtain all LGA permits, and that threats/harassment will be reported, often ends it. Costs ₦10k-₦30k usually.
3. *Escalate the brothel point carefully:* If you formally report the brothel to police for being an illegal brothel, expect backlash. Only do this if you’re ready for that fight.

*6. Bottom line answers*
- *Can they dictate your business?* No legal right. Only govt can.
- *Should you sign?* No.
- *Are you at risk?* Yes, from illegal self-help/harassment, not from law if you’re licensed.
- *Best defense:* Get LGA liquor + premises permits ASAP, document threats, involve police early via petition.

You said “right in front of my husband’s building” and “my husband is now a King.” If this is in the palace area, some states have laws restricting alcohol near traditional rulers’ palaces or in “royal precincts.” Check with your LGA if such a by-law exists. That would be the only legal ground they might have — and again, only LGA can enforce, not the association.

Don’t let them bully you into signing away your rights. Get legal + LGA permits, then you negotiate from strength.

essentialone:
Your Electric Fence is meant to shock the Thief and not Kpai them under Nigerian Law or else, FR££ stony beans for you

Before you install that electric fence bah, come closer cos you fit chop FR££ stony beans because of that electric fence wey you put for your house

There are rules and regulations to follow when installing electric fence in Nigeria, if you fail to follow the rules, FR££ stony beans for you

1. The peak voltage should not exceed 10,000V (10kV)

2. The shock must be a brief pulse (usually lasting about 0.0003 seconds) occurring no more than once per second. This allows a person to let go and prevents the continuous current that causes heart failure and kpai the person.

3. You must put a warning sign that says, Caution: Electric Fence.

4. The electric cables must be 6.5 ft above ground level to prevent accidental contact by children or passersby.

If you fail to comply with the above requirements and do something that will kpai the Thief and someone trying to trespass into your property

You will Eat FR££ stony beans for kpaing that person

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Are you aware of this?

This is a message more landlords need to hear. In Nigeria, “electric fence” doesn’t mean “license to kill.” The law treats a deadly fence as excessive force.

*The law behind your points:*
Under Nigerian criminal law, you have a right to protect property, but force must be _reasonable and proportionate_. If your fence is set up to kill, it crosses into manslaughter or murder. Section 33 of the Constitution: right to life. Section 286 Criminal Code: you can use force to prevent trespass, but not more than necessary.

*The 4 key compliance rules you listed are spot on:*

1. *Voltage cap: ≤10kV peak*
Most security energizers sold in Nigeria comply if installed correctly. Anything above is industrial-grade and will be seen as intent to cause grievous harm.

2. *Pulsed, not continuous:*
Must be an intermittent pulse ∼0.0003s, max 1 pulse/sec. Continuous current = heart stoppage = “FR££ stony beans” for you. This is why you must use a proper energizer, not NEPA current wired direct to the fence.

3. *Warning signs: Mandatory*
“DANGER: Electric Fence” or “Caution: Electric Fence” every few meters, visible from outside. No sign = negligence. Court will say you set a trap.

4. *Height: ≥6.5 ft / ∼2 meters*
Prevents accidental contact by kids or passersby brushing the wall. If a hawker leaning on your fence gets shocked and dies because it was 4ft high, you’re liable.

*What happens if you breach these and someone kpai?*
1. *Police charge:* Manslaughter, or murder if intent is proven. “I wanted to kill thieves” in your WhatsApp chats will bury you.
2. *Civil suit:* Family of deceased can sue for damages. Courts have awarded millions.
3. *“But he’s a thief” is not a defence:* The law doesn’t give you power to be judge, jury, executioner. Theft ≠ death penalty, and you can’t impose it.
4. *Ignorance of the law is no excuse:* Exactly. “I no know” won’t save you.

*Other requirements people forget:*
1. *Energizer must be SABS/IEC compliant* – not a DIY coil
2. *Earthing must be proper* – bad earthing increases lethality
3. *LGA approval:* Some states/LGAs require permit before installing
4. *No barbed wire + electric on same line* – can trap victim and cause continuous contact

*Bottom line:*
Electric fence = deterrent + shock to repel.
Electric fence ≠ booby trap to kill.

If your intent is “make thief run,” follow the 4 rules you listed.
If your intent is “make thief kpai,” start preparing for court and FR££ stony beans.