Mitigating property risks and securing clean title perfections
Real estate investment in Nigeria offers massive opportunities but remains highly susceptible to title fraud, conflicting ownership claims, and complex regulatory bureaucracies. Medina Law Associates & Co. provides robust, protective legal services to land buyers, private estate developers, and corporate investors.
We conduct exhaustive searches at state land registries (such as the Abuja Geographic Information Systems - AGIS), guide you through the perfection of titles (obtaining Governor\'s Consent and C of O), structure joint venture property agreements, and handle dispute resolutions in court.
Title perfection & Consent
We process Governor\'s Consent filings, register Deeds of Assignment and Mortgage, and coordinate C of O issuances with relevant ministries to perfect land rights.
Commercial Property JVs
We represent property developers and landowners in drafting joint venture development contracts, clarifying funding structures and unit sharing ratios.
Our Core Capabilities
- Due diligence and land search verifications at AGIS and other land registries.
- Processing Governor\'s Consent, C of O, and Deed registrations.
- Drafting and structuring Joint Venture property development agreements.
- Commercial lease agreements and tenant/landlord disputes.
- Representation in land ownership disputes and boundary litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under the Land Use Act, all land in a state is vested in the Governor. Therefore, any transaction that transfers ownership or interest in land (such as sales, leases, or mortgages) requires the Governor\'s Consent to be legally valid and binding.
A buyer should conduct a thorough title search at the state land registry (e.g., AGIS in Abuja or Land Registry in Lagos), check court registries for pending litigation, inspect the physical site, and verify the identity of the seller to confirm legal ownership.
A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is a document issued directly by the government granting 99-year leasehold rights. A Deed of Assignment is a contract between a private buyer and seller transferring the remaining years of that 99-year leasehold interest.
We draft comprehensive Joint Venture Agreements defining funding contributions, sharing ratios of built units, development timelines, project default clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
