EDITED BY
A K A N M U  G.  A D E B A Y O ,  
J E S S E  J.  B E N J A M I N ,  
A N D  B R A N D O N  D. L U N D Y
INDIGENOUS
CONFLICT
MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Indigenous Conflict Management 
Strategies
Global Perspectives
Edited by Akanmu G. Adebayo, Jesse J. 
Benjamin and Brandon D. Lundy
Lanham • BoulderL •E NX1ewNG YToOrkN  •B TOoOroKnSto • Plymouth, UK
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
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AewlHeitc hrtoirguohtnt iws reserved. No pari ofthis book may be reproducedpassages ci rnoi trat  emrnee vpcicherawmn.iicsasilo mn efaronnst.  itnhcel upduibnlgis hInefro. remxcaetipotn b syt oar ra
 eignve i aeanwnyde  frro ewrtmrhi oeov mra lba ySy  yaqsntuyeo mtes , 
British Library Cataloguing in Publicalion Information Availabie 
L ib ra ry  o f Congress Cataloging-in-l’ ublication Data
Indigenous conflict management strategies : global perspectives/  edited by Akanntu O. Adcbavo. 
Jesse J. Benjamin and ßrandon D. Lundy. 
pages cm.
Includes hihiiosraphical references and indes.
ISBN 978-0-7391-8804-0 (cloth : alk. papcr) -- ISBN 978-0-7391-8805-7 (electronic)
I Ethnie conüict-Case studies. 2. Conllict management-Case studies. 3. Peace-building-Case
studies. 4 Indigenous peoples-C’asestudies. I. Adcbavo. A. G. (AkanntuGafari). 1956-. author.
editorofCompilation II Benjamin, Jesse J.. autltoredilorofcontpilation III Lundy. Brandon D .
1976-. author. editor o f contpilation
H M 1121.155 2014
305.8~dc23
2013049936
NMaattieornTiaahlls eS.  ptAaanNpdeSarIr /udNs efIodSr O iInn  7lfio3tir9sm 4pa8utbio1lin9c 9aS2lcioienn mceese Ptse rthmea nnteinncime uomf P raepqeuri rfoemr Pernitnst oedf  ALmibrearricya n Printed in the United Stat. es .o f A- meri.ca
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgment ix
1 AInktarnomduuc Gti.o And: ebayo, Jesse /. Benjamin, and Branden D. LundyCCoatnef g/li.o crt y to St
Irnadteiggeien Jeuitryid aincadl  MIdoednetirtnyi tiyn,  tFhreo Cnot nCtoenxcte opftual 1
1: Theje Assme erBiceansja min and Branden D. Lundy2 WReesaovluintigo nIn idni gtheen oAunsd aensd  Western Methods of Conflict 13 T 1
35
WFabiola CördevaChreailldfdairtrieeon:n  Raalen lDdy eiFncagism oioinlni eD-sMa naek-iznaga i nL aCwons tteom Cpaorera froyr  Canhdil dProtect 33
4 ATadra Ney, Vanessa Currie, MaurejEilxlipdalrnoe rRsasitdiinoinngg  Doiofin st,ph Rueo tIbenisnd B iRgeeitdwninoeguetnso  
en Maloney, Crystal Reeves,
LnF,ei ragsnatdl  N LJuaodtdiiotghne s Z: wAinckel 53
2: lessica Dickson5 A frGEicxlaop bearliieznacteios nfr aonmd  AInfrdicige6 Indigeno a 
nous Conflict Management: 7753
SAyfustae Bmosn: suCuso  SCmaorpong-Anane
7 LLaimndit aOtwionnes rosf
p tnahfrelii csYtoo nRr ueobsfo atl huaetni Ndo naA tSkutarrena,t  eMEgfoifeedsce tilinsv  eMnoesnsa, racnhdic al 85
JCousesp8 Thet
h King
 “oImntarray
s lLeayhn Aidpd  Tjicnei  nNaunigrdee A rSkiyaas:n tLmeaun dG .U Asdee bAacyto versus
aOnluds eRgeucn O. Onak C.o n-cTiluiatstiio Sn
ocy hianis tmhe“  Ranwda nI
mts  Effect on Truth, Justice, 103dan Gacaca Courts 121
Birthe Reimers
vii
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
vi9ii S Contents
10 MM
uacncessonaitgoe
fmule nIntt: eSgwraatzioilna of Western and Indigenous Conflict 
MBiaslslaoury'sr P iFnriigsm hCmeorniefsli cts o
nfd I nCtaersees St:t uSodcyi al Conflict in Guinea- 135 
11 T 151BMrhaaenn Cadoghnea mnDge. inLntug:nd}/Grassfields, Ca  AmR oHelreiossto oonrf  iTcraal dPietirosnpaelc tIinvset iftruotniot nths ei nB Camonefnlidcat 167
3: A Walter Gam Nkwi12 sia JPirugkah: tAono nI nBdeilgt eonf oPuask iIsntsatnit uatnidon A ffogrh Paneaiscteabnu ilding in the 1811134 
A
 F
li 
MAeT
G
soA
oha
p: oF
r
tianmdiian'gs  CInodmigmenoonu Gsr Roeuvnidv ailn:  UPonlcitoicmaml Doinsc oPulaces 
118935
PImaualg Pinateedr sSoonvereignty, and Contemporary Kurdish rse,
15 HSRDo
ecpaislpui
roe-sPeonku tBeasrli
ttaitciaoln Cs  aintt  RBuinrgah
oafn Idgeenol lC ahnidn  a
tnitdy Jae:s Tseh  Jteh.  JeBi eaEnnvjgaohmluitnion of Ir
217
16 Conclusion: Culture and Conflict Maanna Pgleamine, n1
r8ig7a0tsi-o2n011 239
Jfioari/ aa nP Zahraadniggm Shift t: The Need 257
RefereDnecbeasr ati Sen, Ferdinand Kivaku Danso, and Natalia MenesesIAnbdoe
265
uxt  the Contributors 228975
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
SEYEN
Land Ownership in Nigeria
Lund Use Act vOelrususse gCuunst oOm. eOrnn/a Lkuonyda Tenure System 
Tsoouhcseilo yi-s lsedugeeaf ilno af nldan edc oonwonmeircs himipp liisc aa tiuonnivs.e Lrsaanld c oonwcneept with its attendant group of pe rship has been vari- 
oclaawnpndtue. rrHeshdoi wpt he
eod evp ealre
a, ,s t hteh eC otmotal ge mu
snuitmy , oorf  groigvhetrsn macecnrtu oinng  a tpoi eacne  oinr dpiavricdeula olf,  
vinio Nleingte rcilaa skohefee slpa san md
i-n,o  wltdhh eii cnphtr rsaiogcmutiecesat l sense, this definition has not really 
ably fixed; hence gthrooenrwge i nainrdividua
imalsne das n dddoi se rptehusntueilcst   gianrr oiinsuitpnesgr.-  eTftrhhoenn tipc  oiwspsauurlesas ta inoodnn   
gisncrgaor u"cphes el a wanndhdo.  T oihnwedn iLvsai dtthiunea  mllas 
get oa ut  scauonan letlryxop lbo ionttree nrc tlsiaatirlm urg agotelwe whileaxi sn earmsoh
 nilpagn  ogdof  ivsfei xprenrdems ueanmntd-,   
asthtnaedt ei nt hotrewo andieurr"c)st himoipna  kooeffs  cl oamnmadtm t
nwedornas
 mo mw "onqrsue i ecc quid plantaltir solo solo cedit" (mean- 
Land Use Act 1978. This chs la aapwltiee arnn  
v
dtoo
e
 mc 
rtyphtlehe ixNn. giHg beisretinaoenrai ctlhael gliayt,l,   otSnhy the surface, 
land ownership in Nigeria after thwe ileol nnfaoscectqumuse enonntt  loythf t eht heri eas ngLianacgnt
esm tceoemnn tcb eoepff tto horeef   
avnisdio vnasr oiof uths em Leatnhdo dUss bey A wcth. ich citizens attempt to circumve
 dnc toU nthsfelei  cpAt rcoot-f,   
tLaanncde  cin
INTRODUCTION
a nintso tn abteu roavle rfo-ermm pihs aas iuzendiv. eTrhsael  egnioftr mtoo huus mvaalnuiety a, tatancdh eitds  tiom lpaonrd- 
103
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
s1i0n4ce creatio Olusegun O. Onakoya
jtsuiuonbncd tituooen  m itf,ao nar nk
n
tid
 nsthe dh
e
  ia
m
ntvo
m
ce r e"
edbdoe m frfroinumiiot thease andf num"l, 
 fmacutl ttihpaity ,n oatnwd itrhesptlaenndisinhg t Gheo de'asr tihn,j uanncd-  
uinngiTv aehtr ees papliolcyp p uarlcoaktpniooornwt iiolnen dNsg iwegdeh riailase , a ta hn
 ua(tlGtuierpnalilec, sabitsui ot1 ns:2c 8ao)rf,c  eltah rneedrse.o  uLwraacnesd. n, ot hseind indeed the r
mefiolarre ,i nis-  
cpoonssseesqsuoernyc rei gohf ttsh ei  aforesaid is teh ela bnidtt eisr  sptrreusgu
wgmlheao fbloelry  w bfooixtrehldd o . kwTenheeepr srs ehinsiucprlteaanst-  
ggdroups of persons
 and 
sureorsfcuarpcip eat ogioafn itn hoseft   etthhaere t oho
n ta hlganw ai
dn,s tw thhiech g eonv
, tnheerer.  ssThuhibpes  ooisifls  luaaenn i
gesenders conflict between individuals, 
things that are permanently attacheddd , 
 rwmnmha ent, and sometimes one ethnic 
and ponds" (Olawoye, 1974, p. 9). Frt ohtmoe  
diaceihr   mSstpoaartees  ctoh tthhee  saobiolc.v eIe ta  dab
maotpv "leela xn idn  ivnicelwud oefs  tthhee  
(pmlee eanncinagp sluitleartealdly i n" wthhea tLeavteinr  iesx parffeisxseido n 
lso
to the soil beeflin
 i
oni
nittic,o luansd,  etwgs to h
see s ltlp rraeisan mcails-l   
applies quicquid platautur solo solo cedit ainllgu wdeodr dttoso : tthhee  dperfeinviitoiuosnl yo fm laenndti oinn eNdi gwehriean.  Nhew daebfuineezse  l(a1n9d7 4i,n p t.h 3
teh)  effo uslrlotohiwle")r-   
Itlthik esee  gebrmuoiusl dntoidn  bgaesn  adagn ridtes e tsrdue eebsvs eoSnitla , anbmong laymen that land does not just mean 
plgioekreess or infgu horttv hoeerfr  tw hthaey agn ra ontuhdni sod t ahannedrd  i
dunitcn lgiun docenlus d i tee.vs.e .an lB soaub ta stlthlr eas tclrteu, gciatnlu ccrooersnp caoenrpedta  loo b ebausielmdienngt  aass b weleolln agsin pgr toofits
f
 an oetnhjoery.e (dp .b 3ry
 jleacntsd,  
Generally, in Nigeria the concept of individual land holding)
i gohntes  
chthooeml dcing of the land (whether as the owner or trusteeInmo muthnmea luc nalasintey d oo hfr o tlhdei nfagm Siylyst.em, as land is deemed  (t1o9 e5it
)h eisr  balei ev neo srtt oes dtta hitnee   
firmed the Omoraka Ovie v. Oiioriobo Kirhie 7) the court con- TeNxhicgeee pgrte
 naebroavl ela pwo saist iiot nh aass  bfeoellows:
of indiia vi niids cu ceaorltm aoimwn nuweneraslllhl yeips ot.awbnliesdh
n e idna  pctphirleci euadrme siant a wanhlcle ecrsoe,  udtrhotes ny io sat r tfeho asrimtt ua tlalht eelad on badjne idcnt,   
Tlianhn e1d 9aexam 7
fi8on  rpet said was theinesrh oetmh seut alitgseas.u teIetd  o its
 p
fh  te
ositi
oh wLearnen
ofdnero 
 rUuens aetig lD ateihncesr tet hete hwnis-h fiebcdahec rskaudlbr military government ePloesmt-eLnatns da sU csoen tAroctl  a1n9d7 8m Satnatausgshe imopf e onthft  eol afcn oldam nimdn,  utNnhiaegl e drluai
soaep, q cuealittyoh noa
nsttlf  id
y
ltahe
 virsendi n
sctghed te ansp
 uttchend holding Systuermeh
er   ,, 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
comp Land Ouniership in Nigeria 105reso
opwronTv
u
eh
ruicsle sc ochroaynp attrceoqrl u aiiisions of thenl
ss iotthi oaent Pt eoomfs tlpa Land Us-etL
n
rship and possession ofs
ad nt,o da  hnUadsr etm hAoec nrtie zeceru aar.rnidn gr epcroonblem of agitation of   lAanctd  i1n9 7p8r ewseitnht -dthaey  Nreigaelirtciieails.e  othf ec coonnceflpicttsi nogf  
agHrrieosatuo pwrsi,hc aniclalhym , bebeleycfa otmhre th
He IaSdTvOenRtI CoAf LB rPitEisRhS gPoEvCeTrnIVmEent i
and the Hausa (of eeth  YNoirguebraia ( oinf  th18e6 S1o, utthhew peseto)p, lteh ef rIogmbo 
n to htfeh t ehm ega esjooopru otehlitethiacnsaitcl,   
awt
itrinae
e
ddr
se it siiconattered all ov werndesi ,ga etchnceeo puctuse sdtto oa t
eehr ne  otphreeth onepralneti.  orLneig kiooepn eo)rt aahtleeordn c gulsasindtodem  dtseif,n fenuroreern mSt sye,s tthveanmiiucs e msw,i hnaioncrdh-   
egwvrioothulved due
mary land tenure Systems varied from place to place 
Fosprtsa , inncdositnnatg
 to
nin cteuh
 t
,ee
h
  d
e  leosvn e"gna  p amirriSnt atthuete sg 
r
eef
atone
c
gar
tci
o cratt
re of eh pde
a  nhioa
adnd
c cept valaecnnce
apble 
cal ardte  aoo
t
 wf
ab
t htnh
uileistayg aem." oTaetr  slBahrtiieptri.s h
n hggi sod vSifyfestreemnt,  ewthhbecameer nNmiegnetr ian
in
,o
cihc
 ta-
  
  nu
Ltttii
haoe
mber
onn
 
nd
g
  O1
os9 vrM0
e 
d0
ron
ian; 
f tmohrdinnaang
eee nmNt. ce 1a
an
eT9tn
h
1iv
ceeess eL  wainnecrdlesu  dpAerco qtchulaeis imed in respt7 ;P trhoec lNamigaetrio Lna n19
N
dit0i
a
s6 o
ti
T na
ve Land
r saP narsmofecerlna m
esc atA tito the ladOerdd;
cq
io ntnh
u ei1s itancN9e0
i
 a
o31t;
nn d thP epr ooCclrilcaoymw aon-f   
wCrhoTawth neh  aOppropdseiitnnioaendnc  ieinn   1Nt9h1oe8r  tc(hToelobi, 199
ive Acquisi­
sault on the natives, who wronn yN oigfe 
2Lr).iaag owas n
916; and the 
athl em
s; rat
 Rasotyearls . NInig Neor rCthoemrnp aNniyge earrenia dp,  rftoehldeloo wmPriionncgal natmt
ohiyte  rui nni tea rneyv ewaaleyd  dtihffee rdeinret cftr oams-  
CNoomrtmheirsnsi Nigeria, agreements were enter
heead tr ieoivnnot 
dcouaftc iatohtnee d oP,f  rbtohyte tho between et ccth
eo acrroatloni­
under wh hen-H
teeri g oohff   
sCuocmTcehmsesi soNsri
ooicnnhee rra  lSflo irrla  Ftnhrdees d,t rimricigkeh  bLtsue, ignaagnr ddin   eatanrsdue smrt eefponrrte ssh ewisn etMraetai vjveeessst tyoe,f d ht hiisne   hCtehoierms ,Hp aaignnhdy   
aSrect
si.y ger Lands Oromas
etcedhm.i nH gio nrw etcehovem enrm,o rsettnhild,l  inmendation was thaeat  eioC
 daoi nmbaimnd ictettoe,  es1 t9wr1ea6as m osfle intt heue pa np idrno  tc1el9cat0roi8fr yaw ttehh iewc hala s latennasc.t mTheen ti mofm thede iLataen defsf eacntd o fN tahteiv Ceo Rmimghi
nmttdtsae
 t
 Pde're
ern  fuearnre-­  
wmtiohaneti,t ohtneh re1  o9wc1c0hu.o pClieoe ndo sfoe nqt hutehe enl atdlnaydt, b
s rec- 
ess  yoo ffO  ttphheeer  aptiroont eocft oSreacttei oonf  2N oorf tthheer np rNoicgla
oemrcilaaa­commencement of the proclamation,­ 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
106
ewUdne riifneo  rd1m9e7c 8l
Olusegun O . Onnkoya
La barnye ddt  hTneea mntiuvilreiet al aSrnyys dgtseo.m vHe roinnw mNeevigneertr ,( iUain,t  uaa a mbmiadaj, o t1ro 9d 8re9ec)gr. ueela wtea asn pdr oemnsuulgrea ta-  
The expression "rights ovReIrG lHanTdS" OVER LANDoabf llea nodv etro  ltahned e. xIct laulssioo nin oclfu odtehse rtsh e(  Orresigfaehmrts o ttlouo  ,u tOsheed  ouerwx teeonnljeto ,y o& fa   cOpohineatcr,e o2 lo0 er0 x8pe)a.r rcis- sth
cel 
Tthu
e Per 
rihge
b  jeleaxcwct l,ou lfa onwdn ienr sithsi pp hysical seh tl aawnd rs e(iobco)n g Ponofis zoseteshs easro t
c rpw
oeny irn
s
rsi 
iobstsghnüts
 t,o awft esh oiicsm hne oi srt i rgcehacptosag tbnolie zu eosdef   oaanwnddnership, rather the n. dle of rights in law, name 
 lpeyrn: oj(otaey)c  Ottehwde n bleayrn sdlha witpo.   
Ownership Rights
pprieiecStetor oror"u  dpi'nas r Jcrueedll aioctiifoa lnla  nDtdoic  itsliao bnnedan reya fsi( c1ai9 a7pll3ey)r  vsdoeensft ienidne  saw nthdho ewm the orfom hr  a"tsoh cweo nntietmrro"e tion or usufruct of such land. l ,
o borec ic"nupgr, oa-  
erirgshhTtih pteo" B  ttlhraack's Law Dictionary (1990)
pa- 
right in a tuhnsi:sn mgi t.o .ri tc  cotlolal eiomctth i.oe.nr.s  o.T Tfh rheie ge hcxtocs
 g tiov 
and disposal; involving as an essentmliuapsl il
euss ea n
avetette rr id
a igno
e
hdm
la
t e
binno ofi j
ropo
anyteo ,
 me
s pstreitoslpe
a
si eoo
nrrint 
nypg, ,e r
 iof "nonjpodryui
o
medt
w
eianr
nyg­  
dTle or di
nt 
coombTip hJreue shC
s bute the right to control, han­topicuoers teo .o"ensivef  fm CAoepuapnreti naolg f i onAf  tpohwpee ncaealr sse(ha osip f  hAineb  rltaahhneadnm  t hwvu.a ssO:)l ograuvnefu an mlei n(g19th9y1 ) apnedr  
opItwr cononnotes a compleproppeeerrr,tt yyh  eias n hndao sht  esth ueebx jeefu
tcercltl
  ani stoeas n
dtd ht eo ftiranilga rhli ght over a property. The owner of the 
tohuetr eth ies  ncoon ostehnetr  opfa ratnyo'st hrei grhh ipts a orrvitgyeh
t rto igofh fa tan looietfh naealrtiei ponnear tsaioonnnd .  odBries cpdaoiusspsie he is the 
of hi s . . .  .(p. 53).  rb tehca
osition of 
e upsreo paesr tay  mthaattt eisr  hoifg hlaewrt i toahnna dnw  tifhtahac-tt   
He reTmhearked further:etInevrseiona
 ol ,fw osnru ebar s thingfa. rH aes  tip
toaufhen
 ra tpp
 iproaols
r,pe
o npoenr
s Alpha  edarentyt
tr-ysi ucbasnt aunste  ia
ilt
d imsO hemniset agalan  tdoo  
, h fovra launayb lpeu, rpofi ntihhs eepr eeprsrs oionpn eha
i
rli
n
t myo
v
.r
se;
  
a nlTp
uohr
 ambab leo oppdr
etie,e rtbiaaerln yoe rifn iimy ca cia
ml oar­ 
ropenrt ys abytee ragenisnyts.-  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
twhiet hp rhoipme and en
Land Ownership in Nigeria 107
The nature o rty to a t
dhsi rwd iptha rhtyim, h. eU rnelmesasin hse t hter aanllsofedrisa !h oisw onwern (epr.s 5h3i)p. over 
lilnand varies leafw tE ,w ntghitleah n caod n ric
ffr ormig hjt
isge hvptet  stotoef
u  do
wriwshdnich ownersh o cicnu 
iectrhtionpyse h aCinp
 rtd oo
o
 w
 
uf
j uslna
rinipsd dc iioscn taifoellrnos.d  oiFanol r pi nroprietors or owners of 
finite or infinite. This e,  iwt hfoilre a a  pseurbiojedc
int  tstance under English oohf eft  itsmheeen  sCwer hothiwcahnt   amilsla  olyan nbldy
 
e   
(ai
dnOs
o scsle
tarrntinamedod
e,  of estate al  uoth,w aOntd eiunrw sEhoniplg
s l oioe, s&fh
wr inLgeahrwts h,o wifp hu iisnlee   faaa nvsdou rb ojoecfcc tut hpmeaa thyioo hnldo eilsdr .  caIont n mestsartuyaed by the 
In Nigeria, before t h Opeh biynas,c ie2cp0at0l 8l)a.nd resides at all times in th
t ebe  eiCn srtaeorfweelsnyt   
smtrh
h
iaoe
ipdre ifbriicyga hvttieo,s ntei sntpog e tachbieas lnolyalu tutaet. r
  eoc woufsn oteowrms
iohanirp yo.  fHl atonhwde  eLlvaaewnrd,,   tcUhoese Act in 1978, owner­
Radical or absolute ownershinpe nroshwi pr ersigidhet si nin t hree
u lAaldtc tl absrto uing hpt ear praedtuicitayl  
tinh ew rhigichht  othf eo clacnudp aitsi osnit,u uasteed, o wr heinlejo yNm  Go
iovne rtnoo lra nodf  tihne N Sitgatee­ 
bimsy as atxhiidme  lutaomw b  eop nea rbaisollod ol uowtfen n ewirnhse e(tnOy -sinta imnise os yluueb,a jOercsdt 
i(geiennr tpians ho only rf aotocrt  aitch ec
l)eding land are left with uwole, & Oobs.
r eTt arhieen time subject to a a, 20srt0er8fioc).trieo,n osw imneprossheipd  
PossPessionllaanwdfu.o lsT srheiesgs hirtoi gntho t i spt oots hspeeo spssshieoysnss iiccoaonln  foceofr nsla tronondl   tmah eap yep robsseos nel saeswoxerciseand use the land and it is usually expressed as posrfsu etlh soseor  
srw iginrh relationry inot tntegorf euosltc.. c T
 hteo  
sinhtiepTr heasent d tie ssr ompmr e"espteiomrsvseeesds r sbeiy law. In this sense, it is a lesser degree of own
Tuephrey­  
C. /. iPno Rss evs. sSiomni tish  o(n1e8 5o5f)
of,enr"r eadl stoo  hasa s" lvimariitoeuds o mwenaenrisnhgisp."  A(cUctouradminag,  1t9o8 9).Earle 
vmeer  thnal aypn rmionucgec eahdc icinno gritsds i (nspeg. n 5ts5oe4 
e,t )h
 am. es  
oistsu tibs vj eiancgttur moed aoutftc eaerldl  t toeh itewh vhearic gihun etiot  t iecsri vamipls p oalrine iddn  tsvoha icrfrtyismi nitigs-   
cIPtoo cnsotsenexsntso,i otleansn  idtsh.  teTh hdatier  beinücctn ipddhleeyn sotsifc  airnilg crhluetldsa etti hosauntc sahh  ipapec rotssf o aans  p hceuarslst oiovnva ettrioo  ana  ptiheicneg ;o ifn l atnb h
dis.  
oprou stilesdinbianlnegt  t (ooO rb sefae minnc opeluo ts, hsOeedsresuiowonno,  tloehr,r  o&du eOgmhba aar, c t2ah0tii0rod8n) . pwarittyh  spucehg sa so ra  sb
,e eerarvceaocntntiso, .na g Iote fn iast   
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
108
bpaossUissen sodsfei ocrne r Rwtoman law, pos
Osleuseguti O. Onakoya
only againsta aitnsh  perr eiwmmoaer dfladiec isea.  teE vlvaied
snes inoac new  oartoft norawgcntse rcsehritpa iann dad pvoasnsteasgseiosn;  nwaams etlhyrge, but al e
,  
cdoisnpdoistieodn  hinim th we aitchqouuist itdiuone  oprf oocwensse rosfh liapws
fou;  l possessor was protected not  in pavgoaasrisinoesustss i owthnae y wtsra (usDe a ianos w,i m1n9ep8ro5 r)wt.ahnot  
piNse ihgooepwrleiae an
C O M M U N A L LA
vse  Crb uinnsodttoi numnga iofronyr  mtLha eiwmn ,,d  heaatsa sa bo
NdDy  ToEf NrUulResE  aScYcSeTpEteMd by its different 
daerteher nisvohe-adcru e(lUdtu tcruaoalmm dmaif,o f1en9r e8bn9r)co.easd  apccrio
i ule nvthtosrl vofeuodrg  hatoh lueand tenure System. The System 
Communal landhold nciples from
  tVw tahhreii cachtoi outnnh.te r NyNo. iTngheetrehi aeenxlei ssltasew, ntsch eea roreef   
npritiyn,c vipilllea goef , cours ttohme faarmy  i(lla1
inn9g2d 1 h)la aowsp .i bnLeeoedrn d t ahHsaast eldlratanendde   baiens the most remarkableatalwrya oyfs S boeuetnhe rrenf eNrirgeedr itao, tyo a bnudt tnreesvse trh to
 Amodu Tijani 
e  pthrien cinipdliev oidflu ocanolgm. eTmdh uitson  aatslh sleea rCt
vio.o mSne mchraues­
 
- 
vihniadgs. The decision of the court
 
Tu boaeble iln a (n1cdr9 i9ht2ioc)il zdceirndit giw cuiizntehdd er reL stohpreed 
 ccitun t soAt omitmso adarusys  Telarijtwaion. ni  vo. nS onuotnh-eerxni sNteiger Haldane's Observation as notn coe
nd
i ao f(  h1i9no2dld1i)­-  
sweeIpt iins g," bu
nly "too 
tphaerrteiscfuoubrlaemr lnit
tt eindc tohrarte ctht.e  HStea tsetmateendt  tish utos:yo tin m Luacgho so fw o much of a generalization and otLhwoern daesrrhrsiihvpai plt h ooafft   lteahvneed nB  wrifita sissu 
chkeenrrtoeaw itnnh e itn ocd acisgee naroush. 1t i ose
 .S Tyshtee mqus eosft iolann do f tiennduirveid aunadl  
with English ideas (p. 25c)h.  a Ssy sthteemre
u efosxtrioesm tenador,t y ict  lowarwraes ci nat,s  ta ahs e r ceclsoauiumlnt etordfy  c bobyne tfHoacrites   
iItdtu erceao  uaolnfd dc t ohimtesr merefuolnareership. The wholtaei
 lob e r eonsrss h
iigph ttloy  lsubmitted that considering the family struc- 
h(1962), e
fanmcei ly ost of other cases is that loaf
ao tnwhden  ebcroesfuohrritpe's   etjhmueda ganmdavteedn tf roofm B riintidsihv,i dthuea lw ohwonle­ 
and theC hcuoknwceupetkement.  o
 fv .c Nomwamnukinvnaodl  ( o1ww9a8ns5 e)or, rsOihgtioipng abololfly 
eonwtn iend O brayg bt ha(1ede v.u v. Okeluwa 9 i8n1d) ,iO vaninditduij aual   
banrodHu gothhwete  ivnfeodrri,cv eiid t uoiasf  l isonowsctniroeu-recstchiovinpeo  omtof i lcan noadtce ti nivthat 
 land was a later de
tiot igersem asotiednrec eprn roiiznmadtiienopenen/ncuedr.ebnacnei
vz a
etliop­haovne  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Land Ownership in Nigeria 109
cTvoehnrest Land Use
LA N D  USE ACT 1978
chanirgaolel ,dp  iufercsoeamsg eo
 A,f  claet is whangtd iis
  no dtl aumtsiaeondn
oa uegbvet  to ebmr
o
e e
npne. at
 s osfoe dtfh  ielna  mnNdoi gste rrieav. oSliuntcieo nitasr iyn acenpdt icoonn, ttrhoe-  
einc oNTnihogeme ricicoa n.g rsMoeqowudteehnr nhceiazsva etoi ogf rnpe aostap wusol acptieiaool npa lnepd rm eesocsvouinrne
i,n  uNrbigaenriziaa tihoanv, ea nrda dsiocaciloly-  
tuirobnPa oninp  Cupelanarttteiiorcsnu  wlpahrr eeasr sepu rmroeobdern facilities are avai
olgam bfirlceo .mim pthaec tr uorna ll aanrdea iss siunetos  
siusiro bdnau nies  a tmroe aabisen  almyre a tdione   nt(heYeea dkd 
 
uo
ilnef  mecibux, 
t
 pi
i
1n
ea snt and towns made residential accommoda- 
people iscove9r8
hs6oi)o.s neT ,h pbelua gct reloasw n(dTth ai siwo sfco ta, hr2ec0e 1N w1i)gh.e eTrrhieae nt congested 
which y of oil which made a large n
h ueimsc oebnxeporma noy-f   
flaorrg Fleao nri
 n cdroinehtr iebnuoteudg hto  toh buid igh d
lde mbaenttde rf ohro ulasneds  ainn du rbmaani natraeinas .l aHrgeea vfya ramnsd,  
bfoerc apuusb g
 aounvsdetr riinnemsc rwere established and these brought about ntore demand 
of a pieelc iocf p tuhrep coo
eseassnet t b 
eaedsc of c a
twhmeee le lvx, eolarduompensyna d
s
td
 of
i oibfnfei
 pccauemoltp (Yak ea
l euns
 
bdo
fr  oseomxmp ereural to urbau, 1986nt)is.m iAveelss  aoen,v deth nae 
nci mqaurpeiorasisns.igb liet  
the feder  guarantee lUesmeTs hD ouef cslr,a
ean lo dmf  dlialiisnttadrri by the law to everyone was a problem. Consequently, 
the Const eiitenu  tpJiuaonnnee D l.1
by9u g7t7oio vtneh,r eun smfeaedgneer,t  acdlo enmctiridloietld,a ar tnod a mcta bnya gloeomkeinntg  iinn ttoh et hcoe uPnrtorby­
1976 to n  The panel itself was ba
.
landless taot iaocnqauliirzeer  laaalfnlt idun ngfod Cre osvhmeelmoltpeitertd ea enl ad(n CsdDussC
ys )eg,d ow vohenirc nthhm ewe ranestc  soseemtt  umupep ni ntdh Jaaet nioLunaan rodyf   
ApoctlTi c1hy9e 7i 8re. pTohret sL oafn the panel culminated in 
 titnehn eNa einngceaerc (itamO lin a bid to allow the d Use Act sets out the frameworkse ufnoytre  odafe  nt, ha1et9i 9oL4na)an. ld  laUnsde  
ofRoad 
eFisne aadncet remaxlei
ns tNinigge lraiwa.  bIny  tvhe case Institute of aRnde pTurbalniscp oorft  NWorkers (2010) the 
 Mcoeudricta hl eRleds etahracth t vh.e N Laatniodn aUl sUen Aiocnt  
ptiroont.e Tcthioonnut ,gu whn hditie cirsh  s nehocatts i b
iiregteeunrei  aao cf(c saoesrc datiemodne e n3xd5t(re5ad)o )or. dfT ithnheae r 1Ay999 Constitution of the 
According to Taiwoaon n(  29i0n(12te1) g)o,r fla atl nhpeda ,Cr wto nohsfit ctihthu eits iC ooonnn e(s atosit
ct 
f 
 uaSmttia theo
is
et n
u ,sanfad 
  ibts ypecial federal 
tion, has become a factor for constant litigation, bickering,c eatod
C )lt.ahiem Cso snpsetcitiual­ 
aitnino dnth . veHi oniltoehrnetchreteo ri,nn t  hdpeiaf rfleta rnoent communities in Nigeria, catchi
rs of produc- 
ing land, together witdhf   Ntietisng eudrrisieap l.u aTtwehs ea  Snvedat rttliheoemu sge encntu esmrtaoelmc lhaaawrny i w
nge rnteta aitnico kOnspa, dle reaatttehns­, smme, tehxoidstse odf  ihanto itlohdne-  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
S11o0uthern part o Olusegun O . OnakoynPthreo FbAolceutmr,  asmn radei lntah toienb
fg jNe tcigy aroet i:l
evarenisad  h,t atohvoee.   LHbaeonewdne  Uivdseeern , Atiincfit e Owdr adases r p trhtooe m sroeulalvgseoa ntteshd ef. oirn ternaacctatibnlge  
21..  TTanood  rs eltimrmeoabvmse, l witnhheei  cbahint tldea rns dciom insp tkrlinofvoyew rtnshi eet osm  breaesul3. Tlaon da sisnis tth teh ceo cuitnitzrey;
 ge
nry irrespective of nhaisg
tnieenmrga eatnitn tt giam; neds  in loss o social Status,o twon reeraslh
f ilives 
afam ize
p  hoisf  
4. Tlpao
m bition alnade
i nlyca abwnninngle 
ill
 a bt
 nd
neh
li evd p 
 egaaos vpseeirrcanutmrioeednn  ato ntfdo ownizuotn iinn ga pllr opgarratsm  
 bpsor
e
 fi 
ac
fontrhg
nee 
gfu u
 ncl
the 
o dluiefner ;
p
tc ra
lan
 particulaoyrn
cdter w  uasnoed.l  
h
 (tOth
eer eu shee  toa nwdh ihcihs hmuso tfoalcai,l i1t9a8ti4n)g  
nuHreao
owev
alwsli,,z  athhta
eevrio e
,e n wdthhieuidlse i adtshomew  aAncdt  ehuaps hboereian, in Operation for over three decades comTpl
n. Th
hee xoibtnyj e tichntai vtth etesh  leoa fnA tdc tt rhaanss
e ac camtuiaosjenodsr  i
 atespeciainy  l tohotef  o ctfoh 
lpelyr  frounoptbroylpe
m
 u(mTl
 awsc oarkers and individ- 
thirty-five years after aiw
en odh,  a2cs0r e1ca1ot)me. de  at og rtehaet  
aainlp stwelycau ssr uerme nsmopwoanr itszhiebadlne  b iftyo e
 hvietes r Le awnnaadcs t. UmTsheene  tAd acentf idhc iaetvintelce ir etesom  olaaf intnhdee da  Lplargely unfulfilled 
Constitution. He state rdJ u dtshrtaiucfset:i  nA"giun go utfh steth iecno eAu Ncrtsn eaa nomdfa  tnhities  wsienh ycooe raa
apsn ears to be more 
clear that due to its implementation not its structure orpr sio
adr Use Act w, taitorney-gen
eerre­ 
otobrjteecdti, vaebsu fsoerd w, ahnidch s etrhieo uLsalnyd u nUdseer mAcint ewda (sO plaryoimwuollgaa &te dA ndhteae
tt ivnh
on 
eda msb 
iebnnetcot,o  the leye, e2e0n0 d
mtihse6). e- 
  
The LandS COPE, COnanatm teol yt hseta Utpers,o efv eAidsceitor anc
N
lsr, e aoa
TR
nft edSs
O aL ,  epcrtiitvor
AipNaDrt iMte ASyNAGEM Eantse /1i nadnidvi d4su9tea oml fl  aotnhfde la
NT OF LAND
LFN 2004. Section 1 of the Act vests the title of  hLlo
nlddhinogld Sinysgt einm sN piguerrsiua-;  
Stfeoerrcr titithooenr  yb1  oenf each state and held in trust by its gover
ananondrd   acUonmsde pa Ardimcstei,d nC isiantpe r tehLd5e   
gftrhuoe,m  2w 0jo0ur8dd)i. c"i
oaefl f itathu eot hf Loearvintedire ysU  aNsneidg e Atrecixat tnbh. oaTos hkae wt terrxaiact import of the provision of 
Nwabuevzees t"(1 i9n9 3th) es upbromviitstieodn  itmhaptl itehse t
tchetere sdv.  eIdst tihivnaegsr  gobeefn eotnw  isnutgegrepsrteetadt itohnast  
window dressing and incantation to disgu idseec tlharea ttaion/vest
n
keover ibn
egr sihsi pa  (Abu- y the stamtee roef 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
the ben Land Ownership in Nigeria 111sethonecjo ipaylisThr eela a
te mmficial ondb eilnae s.t ur
we nweirtshh aip s oocf iaall lj ulastnidce  i
tenor oThe intention is to assure
on  batjlehl ceNt icivgoeeu rinniat rnlyisn  eat hnwed i rtphigo htrhtt erta ory eu csitiet a aals n idna   
ptwooh sbiecesh  v teihmsattme dteh deinir
h
 ef
ei
t  htw
rh eecoe gr ep
u
o r
n
vsoo
t
ev
rmyis.rneoio rln ao nfof Section 1 of the Land Use Act presup- 
ethxee mfepdtesr athl eg omvaaentrenalgmye ebmneetf on(rTte aa intwhdeo c , c
d toshm in each state which were not intended 
ment or any of its agencies fromo 2cn0ot1
e 1mstate. Onenro)l.
e  oIncementroln fo  ltfah ntihsd er
 such
  he
teg ostalad
f
tr
 
e d
t he
 bg,y 
ex cAecptt iwona si sv aelslt eladn din,  
provide o
S vethecetri nofeondr 4.e 9Tra hole fg  tsohevece tAironcnt­  
umNnoedt
s:
nhet riondfge  vtihenil sot hpAiescd tA , hcatec lscdho arbdll affethe Federal Governmenty oin rtg htlhey
c ,t F aaendnyey r satuilt cleGh  otlova enlardnn msdh ewanlhlt e catohtn er developed or e agency concerned. ttihneu eco tmo mveesnt cien­ 
ConSteroclt iaonnd 2 M(1a)n oafg tehmee Antc of La. All land in urban ta rper
aondasv sidheasb. o ll
: be under the control and management 
mAfla lt nhoaetg hGeeomrv eleanrntn doo rfs  hothaf elel ,aL csohuc basjltatetion of which the land is sei tGcutoa 
;vt atoee
n drt
dn.hmis eAnct,t ,w bieth uinn dtehre  tahree ac oonf tjruorli sadnicd-  Ssbheocadtlyli o cntoo n2 bs(5eis) tk  onofof t wshuenc  Aha csp t", tshime illaarly established for each local government, a 
tisnhibegi  lmaitfyate 
ersons
nfrao gcroe amndsevunilsttai notigfo  nth we iltohc atlh
 n ae
d
gs 
  lmAoclalovera
oyl cn gb
aoteiv on Advisory Committee," which 
Section 2(2)(c) of men
deter tonenmr maenninty e amdn adbt ytse htrha ecllo  gnhonavveecert nerdoes rwp aoictnth--   
ctlahanetid oa.nm Cooumntm oift tceoen siph
l atahnlled h  Aiancv tea  f nrueorstnhp-eournr bspiarbnoil viatirdye eafso. rt hdaett ethrem Linainndg  Udissep aunteds  Aasll oto­ 
cpoauyUratnb ofleon.r  tIttuh pner aiotely, Se
ecntsioanti o4n7 (p2a) yoafb lteh eu nAdcetr the Act forsvsiudee sc otnhuces:rning the amount o ro uasdtes qtuhaec yju
 irmispdricotvioenm eonf t ton  of compensatiohne  
oNtoro  bp eceo rputaaritidn s iuhnangld l teohr a ttvhheei s ja uAmrcisoduinctt ioorn  atod einqquuaicrye  oinf taon ayn cyo qmupeestnisoant icoonn cpearindi nogr  Ifto ries  asu cblemairt tberde atchha to Sf eactio
t
ccesn
.
s  4to7 (c2o) ucrotn asst ietuntsehsr ianne do uins tSeerc ctliaounsse 1, (a1n) da ntdh e(r3e)-, 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
161(26 Olusegun O . Onakoyns1i9s9t)e9(n b(c)a,y s.a anmd e3n6d(e1d) )o wf thhiech C monasktietsu tiito n of the Federal Republic of Nigeria void ab initio to the extent of its incon- 
ComCpoumlspouryls Acquisition ofLandgaosof  vipetsrr onovmwideed
o
n  
rfoyr  abcqyuisition of 
acquisitionne tri s t ooc roa cmoqcmuc
 iurtope
he 
n alpynr t
liaa v
w
siasnt
. e oco 
Cproirgmohppeurtlsyo irsy a ancoqthueisri tvioanri ains t tohfe  rpevoowcearti oonf  
(peie.gc.e, /cpoanrscterlu octfi olann do f idna imtss e onrt iariei
r
rat
dtyee. dr
t
T  
s 
htwo
ini t bhlae nnthdee fiw tt rittahhneos ufsetor the willing ports)i sa sm waye lol cacsu
ciety. Comp
 irn  isnm  laaorlflg eoerv- svpcnraoeljrees ch
counlssoernyt 
construction of hospitals, schools). pt
irspo  (jeoec.fgt .sa,  
  
sitioIlnu yoof mlaandde (1980), justifying the government act of compulsory acqui­INqtu igiisce krneioant.e  dTo
, nstlya teind  tthheu sa:gr
ianrge  sto indi 
hgteeh ned eipssa caconevd eo rfuypringing up every se
 
wux
oipcfu lomltruianrtieaorl nassle  cofotiolr  ram ntohdra eto  tdlhaend is of importance to 
trialization policy. Land mhaelulryse t h abeneldd a  gcuqonuvdieerrren dcm ufesontro tt m
eprao rusyis tetsef ounnl  mlainnh d
e rbael
hea ss iat edse oluifbr efea.r caItntoedr uiiens
slot rhnieagss-   sd u. s. -.  
aINt ap
ephroe fsaaprcisitl aittlh,i esasct hh Soaeovcelst t,i oob nebt et4 ep4rr  roevcirdeeadti;o bnuatl  fciqguerisiait i1o9n9 o9 f( pasr oapmeerntyd. eTdh)oe g fs ivethe Cons
fitariscttiu,l ittthiieoesnr,e  a omnfdu  tsthth ebe esFe ae  adlnaewdr a.m (l paR.n 7ey)p .outhb­lic of 
tacyoc qmourpi rueilndsto ecrroielmsyt p aiunnld s aonnroi l yirm iignmh ato nvoyav b
celets a tacit support to the act of compulsory 
the purposes prescribed by a leaprwa 
ion
ro trp  ori
 onpptreoerrvif Nigetesy
dt er 
s
iaisnh
 t
  eaa
hlnlu ysb : es"u ntcoahk  mepnro ovppe." xcept in the ma
oearsbtslyee s sproper­
The Public Land Acquisition La tter a
shinoadnl l  fbooerf   
gelirecsn  pethruear lpg oopsvueebsrl.in cSm;u (ecbnh)t   pftoour r acquire company land, including reclpoaorm sieanst i coionnncsln; ue(d
weu :l os(ofa r)Wi leyex sltern Nigeria (1976) empow- 
out o ction with
ca lnusdas invwietha ergyno  vriemerqnpurmiorevendetm  fouersn epts uf obor­f  
otpavrioenrvi ne
fm aennyt  noefw a n c) for or in connection with the laying 
railwlaagyn ,c dro onthatdreo  vol aro
to
luvyee
w e
 oth r
nx sishtiipo n
 go rt o
eraf  nwpyuh bilcalhinc d
g
ww 
o
ic
vnelol sn
r
bht
n
eiip g
m uoeeno
n
hru 
t
ags
 S
n o
t
ctveo
aetd r
ionnm or th
 work or conveniea bnnycy e t
ephnoet  abr oct
Se;t  a(eetxteonsi)ton
n; s(
ut to r ufbocert  
idoo)nionb 
 f
und toa
ooirrefrn
  iiomnbg--   
emreneq noutri;r  eapdnr odfv o(irgd )oe rdf o irnb  yoc ro tinhnen  cegoco
 any 
tnivnoeenrc ntwimoitnehn  wtp; ilta(hfn) nfeodr  roubrtaali ndienvge lcoopnmtreonl to ovre rS el
ttaatnlked-  housing estate, economic, indus­­ 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
rtreiqaTul, hiroeerd  afogrr iocru litnu croaln deve
Lalonpd mOwnership innection wiethn ts uacnhd p uf
 oNri goerinrposbetsa.ining control over la
1n1d3 
spized tNuigbTelhircie 
hp Sauutr pwprohesemer ee  C La a 
opuer
a 19n9d9  (Uaassne ad Am/ocer
rt s fooinnr  'ptsh utebi tcllieac s tieon  otleafr nIebdsr tai.sh irme vvo. kMeodh, aimt smheodu l(d2003) empha- 
land/property compultns odarneiddly)   ta(hcSeqe ucCtiorioennds  t(4itN4u)u tion of the Federal 
 Rbee pduobnleic f oorf  
suinosgreyl.y  G ascooqv uenirosniwtmiaoednna toysfs   alairnne  dtuh hne adcseo ran ltiwenxactry esoa fsb iernaegpn i 
hpaur od &veli idAcealisty euf oi,s r2s u0c0oe9 ma).np Tdehn iess a citoniomcnrep aufosl-r-   
vaprioceleaisc  yfi indll ieatdhl oegw ufiaetchse   otonef n lhsaiinogdnh   ha(aFnvodeo  dhg rigoahnwldiigng d
d grow
 hAtgerd
pe rmceosamsnuicultudp
r
r 
ethu 
 toa ndde lcivhearn ges in land 
2008). e
f losOro rrlgyaa nandciq.z auMtisia
public Ser­
oitnnioy  n(r FaeAcsOe an)nt,   
OveSrercidtiionng  P28u blic Interest
21..
o
  OfIto vrse horavrleild rb
fe t hlaew Afcutl  pforro vtihdee sG othat:
pancy mrienidagni nspg:u bpluicb liinct ienrteesrte sint
v. etrhneo cra tsoe  roefv ao kseta atu rtiogrhyt  roifg hotc coufp oacnccuy­ 
a. Tagnahgyee  a, ltireprov a
nnastfieorn o bf yp otshsee sosciocunp, 
thereriusiginohdnte sor ;fo ofc cthuep aAnccyt  oorr  poa
sireutr b t-bhleeyar easoess,f  iocgorn nomttrheaenrrtyw,  tmios oet rhote-f   
b. cTstahasetee  r feooqrr u bipryue amb leLicno tcp aoulf r Gpthooe
f 
sv eelasrn nwdm ibtehyn 
any 
itnt h ient h G
r
teho
e
 ev
g
s te
urlantmioennst  omade 
quirement of the state, in ei
ft htheer  
c. Toerihla etp iiorpeneq lfuionirre epsm uober nlfiotc
  lpaunrdp obsye sth o ate, or the re­ ro afn tyh ep ularnpd
e
of 
 
s 
Gtefho
ov
 creo  
eFmrenmnnidneeirn
eagnt itop nou;fr pthe Fected thereowseisth o
dr­ 
ooItvf  iestr i
.
hrmeid pgionergnt eaprnuatlb  tlopic nu pobutlierc p.t hoTashte e,w  shSueucrpher  laea mnladen  dmC houeusltrd tb  uesnder the Act is revoked for 
Gsvieobrvltyeer dnr oefrvo orM kpiedrd-iWv alaetnset deu rsnfeo ,r S staputucehb ( l1ric9e 7vi4on)ct eaartsie osfnot  llbiosuw bt sos:u u"
 
btW
uatstehe
il
qed
izr eeuei 
dng  oonly for the good ntlEyreku v. Military void for reason of not complying with the provnids ioton  boef  tdhe
v cetlrhanerme ldae nnndtu  ollis sta en- e Land Use Adnctdi-.  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
T114CihtieTz ehance q oSufu iring
Olusegun O. Onakoya
hpirse imn taeeu rCtehosout rriintt  yfau  cpratrhnoepnreo ret tmyro pabhn adPs evitzeeesrdt i tntohg ip ssa apymo sPei atiiuno lna bn oyof t hldaeiwvre  (ispnt. i n6g1 )o."neOsho v.  
ForeiTgno danedp 
Fr in resiv
ance Corpor
vpoeirksi ett  hoae fs  tthhaoteul dltao
ation (1991) where it stated thus:
complied with ande w
rry so  rfmi ghuhisstt  o pbfr eoo cpacdeurhpteyar nerdcigy ht ofto.,  rSt phineubstrict construction of provisic oet
li
ne srr
cem pvsu mo c
rpo
admaetu.io
ssetn s b,o etfh  aset  rgleirctattnleyrt   
StInitfa fJstoe' smlhauenand t:O ctoon vd.e Jm. Mne. dA tdhoejo p (u2r0p0o3r)t ethde c coomuprtu lisno ar yv earcyq ucilseiatiro ann odf  sthwee peplaiinng-  Ihttoi s wf as not in the public interest for a man to wake up one morning only etfioxortn
 ik nondfo  aownut t eonvseiv
l
rrei adp
erdioc
hghaeyt.   .sIomeowers.  .dt ooU  cnnodo
nte s 
ng public imnetrpe 
eetihes eeh  Lohawans  tahciqsu ciarned b title over his house without 
this, even though ostensiubrellsyso tr.foi.l ry.  
d Aa cUnqsyue ir rAeevcpurpose l
ta,e nt hjdue ss Gtitiofuiveaedr nexocre opft  ai nS taa tSei thuaas­ 
sUcsreib Aedct b, yan tdh ec L
os ccaotia n
onne cfotetred pd u twor pittohhsieen s ot hnoeeu  tssptiardetee-   
It is icnosutrrtu ocft ilavwe  t(op . n5
na4 nb)d.e  dUescel aArcetd i sin avgaaliinds at nthde n puolll iacny da nvdo idin tbeyn tai ocno mofp eLtaenndt  
croevuorcseat tioo nt hoer  dsuoem peorttoiemc teehssas  to ctofhere are a plethora of cases which dealt with otohvuees rlbyre inddeeinffiegta  otpefu dNb iltgihcee r iinwatnhesroe laesst  .ec sTlesh
 mpulsory acqelena wcaef  ooorrfe  lfsaor per
usiosnitaiol np uorfp olsaen da s waigtahionustt  trhee-  
The preamble to the Act Staartelys ,spell
aeniddd   opaucrtte  isone frt vhthaeet pi ogrneo avumenrbdnleoerr  tsto h hteha eAs  cAotbc tfvo.ir-  
lWiann htdeh reoe fap Ns it is in the pelannd in
igeria b
able t huNebimgliec tr oiian p tae
enr aedss srovit
eurb
dt heth
tlaeitdc   taihnnetde rr peigrshet sttseh raovtfe  tdah lelb  yNr ilgiaghwetr ;oi aafnn adsl  ltw oNh iuegsreeera iaasnn idts   itseo na tljsohoye   
lies should be assured, ep f ornora ttethucetre asdlu  sfartneudnit aspn rtcehese eorrefv tteohd ei nm(p ss. ue1lf)vf.iecsie anntd q tuhaenirt iftaym tio-  
cTNahisgeees relai aawnre,   ju
DUALITY OF LA N D  TENURE SYSTEM
cruerscitesopivmreuaddr yeE,nn acgneli dsr heI sclloaagwmn,i iczN eilsag wefri.iv aHen o mwleaegivinse lars,to itouhnrec  (etews. goo. ,f m LNaanjiogdre  rUliaan law. uUthrseee  p SAryecs-ttLe aminn sd tr hUeecs opeg oAnscti-zt1e e9dr7 by
se Act), 
a8 a en rdlaa .wt hK eaa rlraei nb(dia-) Wt ecnuustroem Syasrtye mla ncdre atetendu rbey  Styhs
netd eL maten n- hyte, J. S. C . (1991) in idn  Abioye &
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Land Ownership in Nigeria 115
mOtahreyr sAl
 avn. dY ateknuubrue & perso  in
  Oththee prso sstu Lmamnde dU suep A tchte 1 c9o7n8t iinn uthede  feoxllisotwenincge  wofo crudsst:o- 
oclathyf
n
a  tp
dhr ein t iet  dpca
antce cwso rtitdhhae  naLc aecn uwds ittUohms ecau Arsytco tr maignahdrt oeaonp nleo owf  bthee  
y 
garraenat. e1dt  ibs ya  cthree a is
la f occupancy is entitled to use the 
out of the realm of custo Ltioo
iwnnt. i oAmf customary right of occupan­
tained in the right of occu cal G
 acotuevsleytro nlmimnakereynd tl  awhnaidtsh  an tnohdte   ttchaukese tfnoa cmitt   
The lleaawr noef dth jeu adrgeae,  swtaitthe dri gfuht
msp aoanrf yco ytlh ahewars .p  Tteohr sbeo etn odste aitnle  qrthmueai nnlaetnuddm b ( ypo t.f h 1ie3n 0tce)u.rsetsotm coanry-  
TAhohclted  ac tlolh ntehcirlou soseci oceunnp ttiahtnleecrde
rther th
y f toure is that on
a tt:he commencement of the Land Use 
soimtrr puLcootrcitoaanln G twloyvh, eincrhon  mptueerrnsntos.n
on  ccdeaernrt i cfairnceayat telea  owinf  tobecurcteu supnadnecry t uhen dLearn tdh eU sAec t The consequences A
 cceta. sMeos rteo  
omwenn t loanndlylo irsd i nmcaalkciunlag b ehlveime. rI yfs  uitte bwnjeaacnstt  ,st oos  uitnbh-
 tot efinn ea xlnaistn tdoin fe gax t celeanpnutd rtleho eor dfGoe Go  th
vise rcnoonr-  
expressly. This could not have been the intteenndtievoden,r  noitfo wr oour ldL ohcaavl 
 into his 
 the Act (p. e1G 3so0av)i.edr nso­ 
The preP-eOxSisTti-nLgA NlaDnd U tSeE A CT  STATUS OF CO M M U N  AL LAND4w8i tehn athcets s tphiarti,t and genernalu rine teanndd mitesn pt roifn cthipel eAsc tw ahriec hsa avreed .i nT hcuons fSoercmtiiotny  
soAurl clt hhe xemi strtoaidng law relatingsion) as wnisfilifcle arbt oiroifnn tgsit  l(etwh tooh
  etaotnh tyeh rei n brtyeerg ewisstgeneral intendment. Thsies  laapwpse airns  cta
tr yain to iolfan n of title to, or interest in, land 
existing tenures that is inconsistent oow nmfioterm
addi dtsyiht iawollni t,hh aa vltthee iresa fftDeioecntc r seouerb  jooemrc ti isttos-   
Svtoaitdu st o(U tthuea emxtae, n1t9 8o9f) .its inconsistency duh
a ent hl aetrh gpaetr loyav nitsyoi  oiptnrssi n coocfnip stltheiet uo Atfi coptnr aeisl-   
a. TAwhchtea,  tca iost nucseepdt  toof b aeb bseoflourtee  tohwe nenearschtmipe nhta os f rtahde ically changed from 
In itsterrito
Act. Section 1 of the 
absolutt eepn loauwcree
r
n  h
 yea aosrlieri f eac
 hn ostteadte,  vine sttheed  gtohvee rtintoler .t oA caclol rladnindg clyo,m epverirsye de xiins titnhge  
rreigchetivs eodf  oEcncgulie
sr tsh been devoid of the concept of absolute ownership.psahn hL
eiap cw oon, roc ert hpteht  eof efS eyr isgstiehmmt po olfe fo  rceecigtuhipsetanccy under Sections 34 or 36. rrT ahutin
yo.d nTe orh efc rtueitsfloteor mme, claimants of us an individaauyra ynl  oclawowm h, matvhuee­  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
n11it6y  who hitherto held Oluseguit O. OnakoyaoenfA ocbutti ctacl
ceourpdainncgy.n ly, in respec
tht et oa bpsroolcueteed oinwgns efrosrh tihpe i sd entoewrm einntaittiloedn  otof  wa hriog hist  
otnhrite ic eupssa tr
dy tot imoe
ors ad 
t
rt
ietrl
particoyu 
e to in  lianh
fe  trlry ep
lhaerno cdco,e utehrdtei ns chgoasu lrlt otb  iaes   aersimg rhpetos opwered to dispose of the question 
reality, as such co msinp etcht eo fr usruaclh  alraenads  (aUretu
efa comtcsac t,u hp1e9a e8nn9ct)y.i t, Hlweomhweeetnhvte eorrf ,s  ectiaotthmuetmr yet to come to terms with o
 rouyf-   
terrbit. orIHny is absolute 
the 
beo  rwweesitpvhee crtt,h  steou  caa
minli uetnnheait ties stih alienriaeoatnilo  sonef
lnl  lsabene dloi,ef  vtthee t what ownership of land in their 
re ppropriate  cwonhseetnhte 
hrue b npydr 
or
eipnru
d
 cr
.
tihcphelea  Asiesc  tol.a rrF ogoeta r
hl yei nrpwsrtieassneec rmev, ueidsnt.   
Howstehe
nlndat t tioohfne t  hpteor i anfpamily property, where the consent of the family head 
this posivteei oArn ci tno.  fB pluarawt 
c
cnp
ipral members is a prer
 tdoicune
o
e-,
pu mrriate  tob eamn b
alaeunrtsdh  oosrufi bttyhje emc tpu 
etsoqt  uSieinsc iattiedo dnfoi t3ri 6oa nliiublic now tens 
e bnneoa stt oiond to aculiige
, hnttah beu lncedo. enr­ 
vTthiheeew  ap porpfor vfoliapsgiroriaantnse a
rcumvent 
sometimes memt  bodf
ui sterSo
hebocertiidtoiiness of thees
t  ha3e difficult process of obtaining the consent of 
Sub-sections (5) and (6) pn rpcoue
n6 d(a5n )sd oa mnnode ti(m6)e sa pthe fee suchvbidliec  ain g
pear not to
s fnoe-lnlcoeowrmaslp:. liance by ru
  erbxaeel  rdocwpiseeerl laaettritvsr aeac, ntisdn.   
5. "
6. "ot
N
Ahu
o l
net y pi n
ae nrpsdloo ntto si  naw nwhdih cnohom t sh utihsc section applies shall be sub-divided or laid 
etivoenr yri enlsattreusm shenaltl  pbuer pvo
ehr land shall be transferred to any person by 
and lia oi
 dtlai nnagdn  dtwo  oatsfr  avnneoss fteeefrdf ea cantsy  aw lfahonardetss otaoei dvw.e"hr icinh  ltahwis  asencd­ 
c. Tonhee  yIena
pbral.er" toyn t oco annvyic tsiuocnh t oin as tfrinuem oefn Nt 5s,h 0a0ll0  boer  gtou iilmtyp roisf oannm oefnfet nfcoer  
glaenthde sru swbtijitetuhctt ii ottsno   isnoecfc ictdiueosnntt os3m.6 T(a2hr)iy so  tveinewan mcy apurban areas, and was subject ay n
poeta bres  ctoor breec tp irne sreersvpeedc t toof-  
qomufa carolyimf itemesn eaannsct e ahmna eson bctec oeunfp  tiuheseri  nAtogc  tib.t  
tffo otBy 
hre c ua
 sgAtrocicmtu waltrhuyer rateel  npsauuncrchpy o lsaaennsdd a  ittsh  tehin ec  untisomtnoe-­  
qarinugteh"nt  btoluyft   haoesc  chau o"plhdaosnl codyfe  rtdh" ee(e Oampmpeodrto opg
e
lrr
 
aai
t
,a
h
 n
vetirtue tee  ldoon cuean
o edf the l gnoetrvit eltre
pdr otvoi stihone , ctuhset otemnaarnyt  
1984). hnem pernotv nisoito ans;  ac o"ntesne-­ 
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Land Onmership in Nigeria 117
nUIt is very signNasigteie oArnicaat l,if zrcaootmniof lni
ificant 
tch toesf  n blooarntthd
teoh  ri
 n
tnion 
o
 gN
t ieog nea rt thithe soliauan tdhth 
so rwjou (soun
n
uge
chttrh 
uset
rhee  tihnattr on
west) of Nigeria. Agitation for use of land haanisptds,   srpoeeusrotv
dhua
outw- cti
iothn sotaf ntdhien gL atnhde  
mained a focal issue in Nigeria. r
dscoee u ectvohen, rtayrno rdle  ghSiaoosun t rhein-­  
In vie RECOM MENDATIONSare 1r.e
w of all the 
 cTohmem Aecntd sehdo:
issues addressed in this chapter, the following reforms 
mFeednetrsa lc oRuelpduu blbdlei  cb eeoa fsremoved from the Constitution so that amend- 
2. Saaemncdet inoidtnsm  2pe8rn ootv.f itshioen Asc tt
 ioNly ib geeefrfieac t(eads.  aSmecetniodned 5)  mofa kthees  tChoen Cstointusttiitounti oonf  
hthaen dtist loef  sghroeeudldy  abned r  epwvohiweic
 hsu dbejected to cumbersome procedurwere-dd,r aualnss k iw tg iohthvae str hnleeon rpts o.iwtseerlsf  otof  raebvuoscea tiino
en  ooff  
3. Tstouhmbej sa lsihenat
 the 
ou
4. cTohnes eetrcnatted doit fi t
liodon/tth  ebb uelor 
rpearaneusscfeerrarv ocal govteeic
f
rd 
 l
n,b 
and u
maotet tnlleeta.n
nsetdc ieknrs   tdohiefff  sererueernkailt n angra eatainvsd,e   wloaibwtthaso iaunntin dbg ec iutnhsge-   
eot
ermptvahecnrt
o
i el
wda nelirde 
odontiga wa
anln edrtionr
u
  s
lers 
ianhd ipecoq 
aaunmadt c conflicts. urtso
ec,n l
hygi e eftsqh uein i pnvpaaetridivo eutsos.   cTsohemtitslm ew unities should be 
5. Government, as a matter of cularsgheensc ya mshoonugl dt haed onpa
dtiilivls eppsur, teaevnse dna tr iinpstirenorg--   
pduistpeus.te resolution mechanism in settling conflictt st hoen a lltaenrdn atdivise­ 
wpFiohnriatcelhldy  a, brteyh  ee tnhprinmake maximdueo mwn
caeitp udu
l e of quserwa ilat hnl dacwshould be paid to the feder e
i
br,
c et
 aqnsal goi
hunio dmu lpidnla etbraean lt eurenr scsooouulorr casegosle od .c eTdiht,e  wchoimchm uisn istuieps- 
and equitable. evfeitrsn mfreo
 
nmt . Tthhei s,s aiti dis  ssrhueosboumuldirt ctbeeesd,   aiwlsl ofhawiilree,d  ju tatsoxt   
As earlier no CON CLU SIONbtreoflolered , thaen di nattdreomdd, iundciistfiftoeernree nodtf   teLhtaehn nudisc e Ug soreof  uAlpacnst d. a Sniindn  ctcheo emeiram rtlueyrn rsiitetiotetrslie emosw eennfftee dbc,ty ic votehnley-  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
n11lmaa
8
netdmiv beosew,r nswh
Olusegun O. Ornkoya
the existin eogrfs
e ththipe,r  sbuyc hw laayn dosf  wgiefrtse  t  u
ors ucaolnlyq um
The adminrhaiesd tcirtoaimotinom.nu annidty c foonrt fraorlm oifn lga nadn d
e aostdse,  awvaasil athbele  utsou faalm sioliuersc ea nodf  
ttrhues fta fmori lmy hemeabde rosr  ocof mthme fuanmali lhy eaandd/ cchoimefms tuhwnae
trheer suitt nieo str,h mhe eae
ndrv 
nlxlcyce lhu tes
uisvee  ipnr elisneer vwei tohf  
dirnyu  crNtoiilogene ri noia fc  ta(hbseeo  tLohaf  ncdo nUflict amon
hledi rs uadchju ldaincdat oin-  
mhoalrdying and occu
se Act an
 Courts, respapetac ntthicveye  lrayur.rea rl eafen
gdd   cituosr nmbsaeenqm uaberenertas sn.) a Htdioioswnpeauvltiezears,t  iruoepnlao tonifn  tgthh eeto  il nalatnrndods-   
S1e. ctTihone  H39i gohf  tChoeu Lrat nshda Use Ac
rtr epdr oto the State High Courts and Custo- 
of the following prolcle headvine exclu
vsidivees  oinrtiegrin aalila j utrhiastd: iction in respect 
a. soPtrra odtcueeteoemrdyien drgi sgt i
gns :-res
cfolur dtehe purp
hoo tsb eoesf  s proceedin 
o
ggosr
cpacenuctpte adonfc ya ngyra nlatnedd the subject of a 
utory right of occup fa fothr ias  
 dpbeaycr lhaagirmraat ipuohnn,
 d bepyrr  othe of ttichtelies
 eGovernor  dtAoinc atg; s sa tanintd-
   
b. smPoreno
­
nsct esee nodtniint llgaesnd d tot ou d ncedotemerr p
nmecinyn;sea tainoyn sq upeasytaiobnle  afso rt oi mthper opveer--  
Tiinnhtceoe  pLltaainnoddn .  UuTsshee e Aa necdftf  ehmcatssa  nborafought with it gre
thaties rAcg ethmee nAtc tin  thNuisg ebrei  co
t.nfu
predominantly in the reverse direction) taao,r   ctnohone  trsra
sion and complexities 
oraf ttiohne aAl cInt tweravse ntoti ochna inng ceu sthtoem raerlayt itoennsuhriep  (bFeratwnceiesn, u
erlpaypt iotoosn e idt(s b oeobybjojeenccdtti ivvbeeessi  noagft   
awnetrsOe, t ihrnaettrrhwoedris usecl,ii gnthgh teu.  nWccohenrasttaeeiqvnuetrey n, insec
 1l9a8n6d)o. Twhnee rms aainn de ftfeenct-  
sbieofnosr eo, na sc udsitdo mpraarcyt itceensu srue,c hth tae
ch eaesl  s tclhoo
o
ecr
ufrr eittchyti , sIan ntpedor tpceornenttfialaitcliloty.n  roafd tihcea lA cletg'si splartoiovin-  
dmeosTnce hinnet   Nagdirgjoueups. The sale of land, al
 atdhtiiovoins ioofn l aonf dl for houses continued as 
matters is yedrti itacoa,  tabolesr oyfu  cplolryno tacidensdusre edos fs( eFSderan
and among segments of 
English-type court System to resotl, vtilene
c mivs, suie
u 1ng9th 8 o6if)t  .dhiasdp unteevse arr biseienng  vfreormy  cloanmd­ 
tthhea tc ommopstl ewtioitnn eosfs elasn adn cda speasr itnie lsa wto  ctohe 
edcwihs  podufi stteph uewt deousu rcladot niohsnaidv ieet r tdianikeged st  hfboeer f fotahe urts. rcet  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
eSsutpaIrtb elimiss heei qnCually impor
Land Ownership in Nigeria 119
monly usedgo, u oirswt y nienet r ttshohe ib p
tca enoletf b tlrahanatted d,o  utchta eso etf r oatfhd eit ifoivnea ways established by the e properiy entrencIhdeudn dauminTehde. presiding judge relied mainly on the seqn
l ndm  viet. stO hekofufdem,c atwigvhbeainc he(1s 9sis 7d 6ce)ot efmor-r-   
tTinah timiso noos oftt fec nahs iseletsoa trdhyse  oyt foa  orwew rnnooentr gsc hoeinpvva oelurf salaatinnotdn w  by the p
uen
consequently miscarriage of justice. Tohitfeh  e Ssvuuidpche
a
re n
rhtiesmciese t o
c raeyn or logicbefo dur net hlitekhieer  
 twohfie tp nCrehessiseeefnss-  court and;.  Court of Nigeria in  
Iladnudn dcuonu lvd.  Obekumagba (1976) laid down five ways by which ownership of 
231...   TAPrrcaotsdd iuotcio
 ensatla bevlished. The five ways are:
merousft  ioaownnd no efpr 
idos
dohecinsitpu
c
i vm
ee;exe tneentnso od
 ouifng htgi  tolaevs d etruo l ayw  saauurftrfhiaceninet tnitcth aelte enidng fatehnr edon fec xetei mcoufe t etnd4. A ru
u;e-  
It is5 .s igP
wocstnsse eorsfss hilooipnn; go pf coossnetsigsuion anifi ous 
nodr  aednjjaocyemnet nlat;n adn. d
bdLeaiarnn d(s2  )Uo fsfa eln l A
cuacnnt.dt  Cetroh  ihneiofsstt,eo  hrtyeh aaodtf equipped toor amdsju, dciucsattoem osv,e ram
 atlh
 nde
l netd   
h
hla
ean nmdd eisto,o
th
r ywr 
othrdiacsdh  of ti
m htin
e
ispute or ieo
 nnmtailoo snir pertou
e dpclea
 rasseb swo vphero e s-aadrvaeet  eCnsuu stmthoe-­  
oasurf igslaginnegsdt , in the rural areas, not the West
le are sufficiently 
courts ceofdrmo mpthr aisot iwnthgne eo rfrs ethghiuep l cäohrf i ecoflasu,n rhdtse  aicndo mnuteri
ecnrounne f tlyticopt esa  daojrfu icsdoiinucgr tfsr.o Imt  iso wthneerresfhoripe  
tinio rnuarl arl ualreerass a. djudicate over n
b,a nC oamremaus nwityh illaeeta ed tehorevs e, crau ndsdtios ptmruaatdreiys­  
nIliet iAecsa  vuiensr eKyd w rebacyre an ltaS netaxdta emo owpf nlNee iwrgseahrs
th teh ed icsopute arising from ownership of land 
decades for failure to adopt traiipda  itiwnioh Jniac
mnhu mahurayns a 2ld0 ce1lf3aies, hdn  abrmeetsewolyleu,e tOnio ftfnwa  ooa vnceodrm  Efmu- al mode of settling disputes. roiunr-  
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY