Land Disputes: CSOs Urge Nigerians to Verify Ownership Before Buying Property

The Network of Advocacy for Positive Impact Initiative (NAPII) has cautioned prospective buyers of landed properties to conduct thorough searches, request chain-of-title documents, and verify whether any land is subject to pending litigation before making payment or taking possession.

This group made this call following an earlier press release signed by its Executive Secretary, Comrade William Bassey, in Abuja calling for an independent and transparent investigation into a series of allegations raised by members of the public concerning Ezeh Lawrence Ozoemena, the Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.

The group have come out again to caution Members of the public on due diligence in land purchasing, following a new court ruling of a land dispute involving property No. 44 NTA Road in Port Harcourt, which recently featured in a proceeding at the Rivers State High Court.

They revealed that a Suit No: PHC/1988/CS/2025, filed by the said Commissioner Mr. Lawrence Ozoemenam Eze (and others) against Mrs. Alice Chinda-Fibresima, Mr. Deniebi Denni-Fibresima, and others, the court was invited to make declarations that Mr. Eze is the owner of the land by purchase and to restrain the defendants and security agencies from alleged harassment and interference.

However, the matter did not proceed to full trial because the defendants raised a preliminary objection, informing the court that there was already an earlier case pending in court with Suit No: PHC/1255/CS/2025 filed by Chief Anthony Ndamzi Woherem against the same Fibresima family over the same property and based on the same Certificate of Occupancy. The court agreed that the two suits revolve around the same subject matter and the same core issue—who truly has valid interest/title over No. 44 NTA Road and held that filing a fresh action while the earlier one is pending amounts to an abuse of court process. On that basis, the Rivers State High Court declined jurisdiction and struck out/dismissed the later suit.

At the center of public concern is the allegation that Chief Anthony Ndamzi Woherem is seeking to use court processes and subsequent transactions to illegally appropriate family land said to belong to his younger sister, Mrs. Alice Chinda-Fibresima. According to the defendants’ position, the land was personally given to Mrs. Alicevby their father as a wedding gift, supported by a Deed of Gift, and therefore cannot be claimed or sold by any other family member. They contend that any purported sale of the land to Mr. Lawrence Ozoemenam Eze is invalid because the vendor allegedly had no rightful title to transfer.

The group has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting good governance, peaceful dispute resolution, and public confidence in democratic institutions, noting that Nigeria stands to benefit when concerns are addressed through transparent and lawful channels, hence calling on members of the public to note that land transactions involving family property can become complicated where ownership documents conflict.