₦airaland Forum

Good day nairalanders, there's an issue I'm currently facing, concerning an inherited landed property.
My late father bought a land from a non indigene of a community fourty years ago, and within some few years he built a face-me-i-face-you apartment, he got a document of purchase for the land, he died 10 years ago, so I took over and was in charge of the property.

I planned doing a little work on the house because it needs maintenance, I got the building materials and started work, just few minutes of the work, some youths came, stopped the work and said that their community chairman wants to see us, that we should come with the document we used in purchasing the land.

I photocopied the purchase document and showed them, and they told me that we don't have any land, because we don't have root of title. So he will call a meeting with other elders in the community before he knows his next move.

So I just need legal advice on what to do, how to follow up, because they threatened to sue the compound to court and evict everyone staying there.

MrBadNews:
......said that their community chairman wants to see us....

....and they told me that we don't have any land

Sounds to me like it wasn't the community chairman who is the "they that told" you?

I can just imagine me standing there and asking them if they are suggesting my father built a house on land he stole from them or what?

First, I'd go to the oga of the community leader (in my Yorubanland it would be the Oba) and complain. Then I'd go get some bad ass lawyer to fight this for me, though I'm very certain negotiating a small fee is the wiser thing to do.

budaatum:
Sounds to me like it wasn't the community chairman who is the "they that told" you?

I can just imagine me standing there and asking them if they are suggesting my father built a house on land he stole from them or what?

First, I'd go to the oga of the community leader (in my Yorubanland it would be the Oba) and complain. Then I'd go get some bad ass lawyer to fight this for me, though I'm very certain negotiating a small fee is the wiser thing to do.

It's the community chairman.

MrBadNews:
It's the community chairman.

Agbero chairman!

Ask them what they want and negotiate, though I'd rather a bad ass lawyer and court.

budaatum:
Agbero chairman!

Ask them what they want and negotiate, though I'd rather a bad ass lawyer and court.

I will do that,
they claimed the person that sold the land is illegal, that makes us not the rightful owners of the land

MrBadNews:
I will do that,
they claimed the person that sold the land is illegal, that makes us not the rightful owners of the land

They are crooks! If the person who sold the land is illegal, they'd have confronted your father when he was building on it!

You will buy the land from them again...


Be diplomatic

Ok, what if I can't afford the price they call

They're not the ones to tell you, you don't have Root of Title. Since you have the document your father used in buying that land, ask them if the person who bought the land, isn't the onwer?

Beside, how many people have purchased that land? Do this before you consult a lawyer.

MrBadNews:
Ok, what if I can't afford the price they call

joseph1832:
They're not the ones to tell you, you don't have Root of Title. Since you have the document your father used in buying that land, ask them if the person who bought the land, isn't the onwer?

Beside, how many people have purchased that land? Do this before you consult a lawyer.

They actually know the history of the land, because the community used to be a bush that suddenly developed, the person that sold the land acquired many lands then, and started selling the lands without any community involvement.

Please 🙏 I still need more input from peoplez that has experienced this or legal practitioners. Thanks

MrBadNews:
They actually know the history of the land, because the community used to be a bush that suddenly developed, the person that sold the land acquired many lands then, and started selling the lands without any community involvement.

Know this, everywhere used to be bush, or better still, forest, before development came.

Is the land community land?

illicit:
You will buy the land from them again...

Be diplomatic

is the community the onwer of the land, before you're telling him to buy the land from them?

MrBadNews:
Good day nairalanders, there's an issue I'm currently facing, concerning an inherited landed property.
My late father bought a land from a non indigene of a community fourty years ago, and within some few years he built a face-me-i-face-you apartment, he got a document of purchase for the land, he died 10 years ago, so I took over and was in charge of the property.

I planned doing a little work on the house because it needs maintenance, I got the building materials and started work, just few minutes of the work, some youths came, stopped the work and said that their community chairman wants to see us, that we should come with the document we used in purchasing the land.

I photocopied the purchase document and showed them, and they told me that we don't have any land, because we don't have root of title. So he will call a meeting with other elders in the community before he knows his next move.

So I just need legal advice on what to do, how to follow up, because they threatened to sue the compound to court and evict everyone staying there.

If your father bought the land about 40 years ago, built on it, and your family has been living there openly all these years without disturbance, don't make anyone chicken you out of your inheritance. That property belongs to you as long as your father legally purchased it.

They are probably looking for settlement (something for the boys), and the moment you try to negotiate with them, every part, beginning from the youth, the community leaders, thugs, and touths, etc will start coming for their own settlement. Also, the community or youths cannot just wake up and evict anybody. Only a court can order eviction. Any threat, harassment, or attempt to force people out is illegal.

You need to handle this issue calmly and with wisdom. If you are not so good with matters like this, I'd advise that you get a land lawyer immediately. Gather every document you have, even old receipts, building approvals, tenancy records, and people around who know the history of the land (your family members can also back you up; don't fight this battle alone). Don't respond but let your lawyer respond to them formally. Most times, once they see a lawyer involved, especially if its a lawyer that knows his onions, the noise dies down.

If they invite you to any meeting, don’t go alone. Either go with your lawyer or insist that all communication be done through your solicitor. Avoid any verbal settlement or payment without legal advice.

They said the land was sold by an illegal owner.
Who sold the land to the illegal owner, was it another illegal owner?
You must stand for your property oo

Their case is weak. In fact, very very weak. They must have to prove fraud or that the land was never sold.

Many lands sold 30–50 years ago, especially community lands, did not come with today’s modern documents (C of O, Governor’s Consent, etc.). The fact that the seller was a non-indigene does not automatically invalidate the sale either.

PWANMaxGroup:
If your father bought the land about 40 years ago, built on it, and your family has been living there openly all these years without disturbance, don't make anyone chicken you out of your inheritance. That property belongs to you as long as your father legally purchased it.

They are probably looking for settlement (something for the boys), and the moment you try to negotiate with them, every part, beginning from the youth, the community leaders, thugs, and touths, etc will start coming for their own settlement. Also, the community or youths cannot just wake up and evict anybody. Only a court can order eviction. Any threat, harassment, or attempt to force people out is illegal.

You need to handle this issue calmly and with wisdom. If you are not so good with matters like this, I'd advise that you get a land lawyer immediately. Gather every document you have, even old receipts, building approvals, tenancy records, and people around who know the history of the land (your family members can also back you up; don't fight this battle alone). Don't respond but let your lawyer respond to them formally. Most times, once they see a lawyer involved, especially if its a lawyer that knows his onions, the noise dies down.

If they invite you to any meeting, don’t go alone. Either go with your lawyer or insist that all communication be done through your solicitor. Avoid any verbal settlement or payment without legal advice.

They said the land was sold by an illegal owner.
Who sold the land to the illegal owner, was it another illegal owner?
You must stand for your property oo

Their case is weak. In fact, very very weak. They must have to prove fraud or that the land was never sold.

Many lands sold 30–50 years ago, especially community lands, did not come with today’s modern documents (C of O, Governor’s Consent, etc.). The fact that the seller was a non-indigene does not automatically invalidate the sale either.

Thanks very much for this

joseph1832:
Know this, everywhere used to be bush, or better still, forest, before development came.

Is the land community land?

According to them, they said, the person that sold the land to my father didn't involve the community, that it's the illegal, and that he sold the land without root of title.

Please, more contributions still needed

Your advice is still needed.

MrBadNews:
Your advice is still needed.

Have you resolved this?

PWANMaxGroup:
Have you resolved this?

It's still under dispute.