Ibeju-Lekki is one of the busiest land markets in Lagos, and one of the riskiest. Parts of it have been subject to government acquisition, and a plot that looks perfect on the ground can turn out to sit on acquired or committed land.
That is why one of our clients asked us to search a plot in Okun Mopo Village, Ibeju-Lekki, before going any further. This is what the search found, what it did not cover, and what every buyer should learn from it.
Client and seller details have been removed to protect confidentiality.
The search report
Item
Details
Location
Okun Mopo Village, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos State
Land area
About 628 square metres
Document provided
A registered survey plan, prepared in 2011
Search conducted
Charting at the Office of the Surveyor-General, Lagos State
Date of search
4 August 2026
What the client asked
The client wanted to know whether the land was under government acquisition before committing money to it.
What we did
We reviewed the survey plan supplied by the seller and checked its particulars, including the surveyor, scale and coordinates. We then charted the plot at the Office of the Surveyor-General, Lagos State, to confirm its status against government records.
What the search found
Government acquisition: the land was free from all known government acquisitions as at the date of the search.
Missing title details: the survey plan did not show a Certificate of Occupancy number, registration particulars, or the land use and tenure. Those details can only be confirmed at the Lands Registry.
What the search did not cover
Charting tells you about the land’s status with government. It does not tell you who owns the land or what is registered against it. This search did not confirm:
the seller’s root of title, meaning how the seller came to own the land;
whether the title is registered, and in whose name; or
whether there are mortgages, charges, caveats or other encumbrances on the land.
Our advice
The charting result is good news, but it is only the first gate. We advised the client that the result supports, but does not on its own conclude, the land’s suitability for purchase. We recommended a full Lands Registry search as a condition before completing any transaction.
A clean charting result is not a clean title
Many buyers stop at charting. They hear “the land is free from acquisition” and pay. But land can be free from acquisition and still be sold by someone who does not own it, already mortgaged to a bank, or sold to several buyers.
A proper verification uses several searches, because each one answers a different question.
Search
Where
What it tells you
Charting
Office of the Surveyor-General
Whether the land is under government acquisition, committed to a project, or on a setback
Title search
Lagos State Lands Registry
Who the registered owner is, and any mortgages, caveats or competing transfers
Litigation search
The courts
Whether the land is the subject of a pending case or injunction
Site inspection
On the land and in the community
Who is in possession, and whether there are boundary or family disputes
Seller and agent checks
CAC and LASRERA
Whether the company exists and the agent or developer is registered
Lessons for every buyer
Charting first. If the land is under acquisition, nothing else matters. Walk away.
Then the Lands Registry. A survey plan is not a title. Confirm who owns the land and what is registered against it.
Read the report’s limits. A good search report tells you what it did not check. If yours doesn’t, ask.
Don’t pay until the gaps are closed. Make the remaining searches a condition before any payment or completion.
Thinking of buying land in Ibeju-Lekki?
Don’t let a good price or an eager seller rush you. Search first, and make sure every gap is closed before you pay.
Survey plan obtained and checked
Land charted at the Office of the Surveyor-General
Lands Registry search on the title
Litigation search
Site inspection and community enquiries
Seller, agent and developer verified
Written contract reviewed before any payment
About Cardinal Counsel
Cardinal Counsel (Barristers & Solicitors) is a Lagos-based law firm advising individuals, families and businesses on property transactions, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The firm conducts property searches and due diligence, prepares and reviews sale and lease agreements, and supports clients from verification to perfection of title, helping them buy and invest with confidence.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Search results are valid only as at the date of the search. To search land or property before you buy, contact Cardinal Counsel at Suite D14, Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere, Lagos, or email info@cardinalcounsel.co.