Erhomosele Happy_ The Ace Lawyer. Recall that in an earlier post, I talked about the need for people to take proactive steps to protect their undeveloped lands and the implications of failing to do so. This is a follow up post aimed at equipping you with those steps. The steps or measures are not far-fetched. They are in fact simple, practical and supported by law. They are the product of my research and experience in dealing with land cases, many of which would not have been if the clients knew and implemented these steps. Although this post contains 5 prominent measures, there are others. Let’s get down to them then. 1.      Build a Fence around Your Land In my experience, majority of the cases on trespass involve lands without fences. Trespassers are in the habit of encroaching on lands without fences built around them. When a land does not have a fence marking out its boundary, it is an open invitation to trespassers. Many people just assume that erect

Land is debatably the most important resource on planet earth. Records exist to confirm that the greatest wars in the history of mankind were land related and millions of human lives have been lost in its defense. If land is not so much important, why then are people sacrificing their precious lives to defend it? Israel has consistently been at war with its neighbours because of land. In Nigeria, land conflicts and boundary disputes have existed from time immemorial. “Land is debatably the most important resource on planet earth.” Moreover, the real cause of what has been called “ethno-religious” crisis in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria which has claimed so many lives is not religion but land, as long-time Muslim migrants and Christian dominated aboriginals have both laid claims to portions in Jos-North Local Government Area of the State. Land is so important that nearly every, if not in fact every human activity takes place on land. From the structures we erect wh

It is so easy for people who aren't lawyers to assume that law can be found in one book which will give answer to every legal question and that one book has to be the Constitution. Before I became a lawyer, I thought so too. Clearly, I was wrong. Many people today think the way I once thought. Many people today live with the belief that all Nigerian laws can be found in the Nigerian Constitution. Frankly sometimes, I wish they were right because it will make our job as lawyers very easy. It is so easy for people who aren't lawyers to assume that law can be found in one book which will give answer to every legal question I never really averted my mind to the fact that people think like this until I participated in a discussion where non-lawyers expressed their views about the Nigerian constitution. I twitched in my chair as I eagerly awaited my turn to speak. "The Nigerian Constitution does not contain all Nigerian laws," I began. "Law consis

A lot has been said about human rights before now, particularly in Nigeria. Despite the alarmingly large number of books and articles on human rights as well as organizations, there is no doubt that human rights abuses still exist.  One would have thought that with the colossal attention given to human rights in Nigeria and the world, flagrant human rights violations should be a thing of the past. Sadly, this is not true. “Despite the alarmingly large number of books and articles on human rights as well as organizations, there is no doubt that human rights abuses still exist.” Why then are there still so many cases of human rights abuse? I have meditated on this question in the manner that a monk in seclusion would meditate. I have read so many books and articles on human rights hoping that I would find the answer to my question. I did find answers alright albeit not in the way I expected. I did not get answers from the contents of the books I read. Rather, I go