December is when many Nigerians abroad finally come home, and for many it is also the year they buy land or a house. The flights are booked, the savings are ready, and family and friends have “a very good plot” to show you.
Scammers know this too. Every Christmas, land sellers, fake agents and dubious developers line up deals for buyers who are home for two or three weeks, eager to sign before they fly back.
That short window is exactly what makes the season risky:
You are in a hurry. A two-week trip leaves no time for proper searches, so buyers pay first and plan to “sort out the papers later”.
Government offices slow down. The Lands Registry, the Surveyor-General’s office and the courts work reduced hours over the holidays, so searches take longer.
Pressure is everywhere. “Other buyers from abroad are coming this week” is the oldest line in the book, and in December it sounds believable.
You trust the wrong people. Many diaspora losses involve relatives, friends or church contacts who meant well but never verified anything.
The good news: you can buy safely this Christmas. You just need to start before you board the plane.
Your Christmas buying plan
The smartest diaspora buyers do the legal work while they are still abroad, so the trip home is for inspecting and signing, not searching and hoping.
When
What to do
October to mid-November
Shortlist properties. Send the seller’s documents and survey plan to your lawyer. Start the searches.
Mid-November to early December
Charting at the Surveyor-General’s office, Lands Registry search, litigation search, and checks on the seller, agent or developer. Get the search report.
Before you fly
Agree the price and terms. Have the contract of sale or deed of assignment drafted and reviewed. Set up a safe payment arrangement.
While you are home
Inspect the land in person with your lawyer or surveyor. Meet the seller or family heads. Sign.
January onwards
Your lawyer registers your deed and processes the Governor’s consent while you are back abroad.
If you leave everything until you land, you will run out of time and be tempted to pay without the searches. Start now.
The Christmas scams to watch for
The “family land” sold by one member. Family land must be sold by the family head and principal members. A sale by one relative, or by omo onile acting alone, can be challenged.
The same plot sold to several buyers. Sellers know diaspora buyers will not be around to take possession, so they resell after you leave.
Land under government acquisition. The plot looks perfect, but charting would show it is acquired or committed to a government project.
Fake or borrowed documents. Photocopies of a C of O or Governor’s Consent that belong to another plot, or to nobody.
The off-plan “festive discount”. Developers with no title to the land offering special December prices for quick payment.
The trusted middleman. A relative or friend who collects your money, buys on your behalf, and never puts the land in your name.
Paying safely from abroad
Never send money to a personal account for a company sale, and never pay a middleman in cash.
Pay only after the searches are complete and the contract is signed.
Use staged payments tied to milestones, such as the release of original documents and the signing of the deed.
Get receipts in the seller’s name for every payment.
Limit any power of attorney. If someone must act for you while you are abroad, give them a registered power of attorney limited to that one transaction and a fixed period. Make sure the land is registered in your name, not theirs.
Let us do the legal work before you land
Cardinal Counsel helps Nigerians abroad buy property in Lagos safely, without needing to be in the country for every step. Instruct us now and we will:
search the land: charting at the Office of the Surveyor-General, a Lands Registry search on the title, and a litigation search;
verify the seller, including family heads, companies, agents and developers;
send you a written search report you can read from anywhere, with clear advice on whether to proceed;
draft and review your contract of sale or deed of assignment before you pay;
join you for inspection and signing when you are home; and
perfect your title after you leave, registering your deed and processing the Governor’s consent.
Searches take time, especially over the holidays. Book your verification before the end of November so your report is ready before you travel.
Ready to buy this Christmas? Email info@cardinalcounsel.co with the property’s location and copies of the seller’s documents, and we will tell you exactly what needs to be checked.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy land in Lagos while I am abroad? Yes. Your lawyer can carry out the searches, review the documents and handle registration. You can sign remotely or when you visit, and a limited power of attorney can cover any step you cannot attend.
How long does a land search take? It depends on the searches needed and the offices involved. Allow extra time in December, when government offices work reduced hours, and start at least a few weeks before your trip.
Is charting enough to know the land is safe? No. Charting shows whether the land is under government acquisition. You also need a Lands Registry search to confirm ownership and encumbrances, and a litigation search.
Should I let a relative buy land for me? Only with proper legal safeguards. Make sure the land is bought and registered in your name, and that a lawyer you have instructed carries out the searches.
What happens after I go back abroad? Your lawyer registers your deed of assignment and applies for the Governor’s consent, so your ownership is fully perfected.
About Cardinal Counsel
Cardinal Counsel (Barristers & Solicitors) is a Lagos-based law firm advising individuals, families and businesses, at home and abroad, on property transactions, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The firm conducts property searches and due diligence, prepares and reviews sale 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. Every property transaction is different. To book a property verification before your Christmas trip, contact Cardinal Counsel at Suite D14, Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere, Lagos, or email info@cardinalcounsel.co.