https://legalcliquelawfirm.com/

Legal Clique Law Firm, Port Harcourt, Abuja &, Lagos (2026)

17/08/2026

NOTARISATION AND INTERNATIONAL USE

A Nigerian Notary Public may notarise documents intended for use internationally. However, notarisation does not, by itself, guarantee automatic acceptance in every foreign jurisdiction.

Nigeria is not presently a contracting party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Consequently, where a Nigerian document is intended for use abroad, the requirements of the country of destination must be considered. Depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the document, further authentication or legalisation may be required through the appropriate Nigerian authority and/or the diplomatic or consular mission of the destination country.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, the Netherlands and other jurisdictions may accept Nigerian notarised documents subject to their respective authentication, legalisation and documentary requirements. The precise procedure depends on the country, the type of document and the authority to which it is being presented.

The office of a Notary Public therefore serves an important function in commercial transactions, international documentation, corporate affairs, property transactions, immigration and other legal matters where authenticity and formal verification are required.

Onome Diamond Tom-West, Esq.
Notary Public

03/07/2026

⚖️ LET'S SETTLE THIS MATTER!
👶 "THE CHILD WILL NOT BEAR YOUR NAME!"

A man and a woman were in a relationship.

They never got married.

The woman became pregnant.

Although the families opposed the relationship, the man accepted responsibility.

He paid for the antenatal care.

He paid the hospital bills.

He was present throughout the pregnancy.

After the child was born...

The mother's family said:

"This child will not bear your surname."

Instead...

They insisted that the child should bear the maternal grandfather's surname.

🤔 Can they legally do that?

The answer is not as simple as many people think.

A child's surname is not determined solely by the wishes of one family.

Where the biological father has acknowledged paternity and accepted responsibility for the child, his interests cannot simply be ignored because the relationship ended or because his financial status is considered inadequate.

Likewise, the mother and her family cannot use the child's identity as a means of punishing or excluding the father.

If the parties cannot agree, the court may be called upon to determine the issue, bearing in mind the best interests of the child, which is always the paramount consideration.

📚 THE LAW

Section 1 of the Child Rights Act (or the equivalent Child Rights Law in applicable States) provides that the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration in every matter concerning a child.

The law protects the welfare and identity of the child—not the pride or preferences of either family.

💡 LEGAL CLIQUE QUOTE OF THE DAY

"A child's identity should never become a casualty of family disputes."

💬 LET'S HEAR FROM YOU...

Should a biological father who accepted responsibility from pregnancy and paid all the medical bills have a say in the surname of his child?

👍 YES

❤️ NO

Tell us WHY in the comments

02/07/2026

⚖️LEGAL CLIQUE LAW FIRM

🌧️ A HERO'S SACRIFICE IN THE LAGOS FLOODS: A LEGAL LESSON FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD

Yesterday, I received a heartbreaking phone call.

A domestic driver, who had faithfully served one family for over 12 years, reportedly lost his life while trying to rescue another domestic staff member trapped in floodwaters.

The other staff member is currently receiving treatment.

Whether you knew him or not, one thing is clear:

He died trying to save another human being.

May his soul rest in peace.

But beyond the grief lies an important legal question.

Was this simply an Act of God?

Many people assume that once heavy rain or flooding is involved, the law automatically treats the incident as an "Act of God."

That is not always the case.

The law asks a further question:

Could this tragedy have been prevented by the exercise of reasonable care?

For example:

⚠️ Was there a live electrical wire exposed to floodwater?

⚠️ Was the electricity disconnected after the premises became flooded?

⚠️ Were reasonable safety precautions taken?

If these questions reveal a failure to take reasonable care, the issue may go beyond a natural disaster and raise questions of legal responsibility.

💡 LESSONS FOR EVERYONE

✅ Never assume floodwater is safe. It may conceal live electrical currents.

✅ If floodwater enters your home or compound, switch off the main electrical supply if it is safe to do so.

✅ Employers should have emergency plans for domestic staff and workers during periods of heavy rainfall.

✅ Heroism is admirable, but no rescue should be attempted until the danger of electrocution has been eliminated.

💬 A FINAL THOUGHT

The greatest way to honour heroes is not merely by celebrating their courage, but by ensuring that future tragedies are prevented.

May God comfort the bereaved family and grant the injured person a speedy recovery.

📞 Legal Clique Law Firm

☎️ 0707 778 2440

💡 Legal Clique Quote of the Day

"Not every tragedy is an Act of God. Sometimes, the law asks whether it could have been prevented."

30/06/2026

⚖️ LEGAL TIP

💰 A BANKING ERROR IS NOT A FINANCIAL BREAKTHROUGH.

Imagine waking up to an unexpected credit alert of ₦5,000,000.

Your first thought might be:

"God has remembered me!"

But before you spend a kobo, remember this:

Money mistakenly paid into your account does not automatically become yours.

If you know the money was credited in error and you deliberately spend it or refuse to return it, you could expose yourself to civil liability and, depending on the circumstances, criminal prosecution.

The right thing to do is simple:

✅ Notify your bank immediately.

✅ Inform the sender if you know who they are.

✅ Do not spend money that does not belong to you.

💡 Legal Clique Quote of the Day

"A banking error is not a financial breakthrough."

💬 Let's hear from you...

If ₦20 million mistakenly entered your account today and nobody contacted you for one week...

Would you spend it or report it?

Be honest. 👇

📞 Legal Clique Law Firm

☎️ 0707 778 2440

29/06/2026

LEGAL TIP MONDAY
🚗💔 AFTER A BREAKUP, WHO KEEPS THE CAR?
Imagine this...
John buys a brand-new SUV worth ₦45 million for his girlfriend, Mary, on her birthday.
He hands over the keys and proudly tells everyone,
"This car is my gift to you."
Mary drives the vehicle for two years.
However...
The receipt, vehicle registration, insurance, and every ownership document remain in John's name.
The relationship later ends.
John demands the return of the vehicle.
Mary refuses, insisting,
"It was a birthday gift. You cannot take it back!"
🤔 So, who owns the car?
The answer is not as straightforward as many people think.
Under the law, merely handing someone the keys does not always prove that ownership has been transferred.
A court will consider several important questions:
✅ Was there a clear intention to transfer ownership permanently?
✅ Were the vehicle registration and other ownership documents transferred to the recipient?
✅ Was the recipient merely allowed to use the vehicle, or was it an outright gift?
✅ Is there evidence such as messages, witnesses, videos, or photographs showing that the vehicle was intended as an unconditional gift?
⚖️ The Legal Position
Where the vehicle remains registered in the giver's name, the giver may have a stronger legal argument that ownership was never formally transferred.
On the other hand, if the recipient can prove that the vehicle was intended as an absolute and unconditional gift, a court may conclude that the beneficial ownership had already passed, notwithstanding that the registration was not immediately changed.
Each case turns on its own facts and evidence.
📚 What Can We Learn?
If you are giving a vehicle as a genuine gift:
✔️ Complete the transfer of ownership.
✔️ Execute the necessary transfer documents.
✔️ Update the vehicle registration where required.
✔️ Keep proper records of the transaction.
These simple steps can prevent years of costly legal disputes.
💬 Let's hear from you.
If someone buys you a car but never transfers the ownership documents into your name, **do you believe it is truly yours?**
Share your thoughts in the comments.
📞Legal Clique Law
☎️ 0707 778 2440
"The law protects not only intentins, but also proper documentation."

26/06/2026

LEGAL TIP OF THE DAY

7 LEGAL STEPS TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY IN NIGERIA THE RIGHT WAY

Buying property is one of the biggest investments many people will ever make. Unfortunately, many buyers are so eager to own land that they skip the legal steps—and only discover the consequences years later.

If you're planning to buy land or a house, here are **7 essential legal steps** you should never ignore:

1. Identify the Property

Know exactly what you are buying. Visit the property, inspect it physically, and confirm the boundaries. Never rely solely on pictures or a seller's description.

2. Verify Ownership

Ask the seller to provide documents showing ownership. Ensure the person selling the property has the legal authority to do so.

3. Conduct Due Diligence

Carry out searches at the appropriate government agencies to confirm the status of the property. Find out whether the land is under acquisition, involved in litigation, subject to a mortgage, or affected by any encumbrance.

4. Engage a Competent Lawyer

This is one step many people overlook. A lawyer will verify the title, review the documents, advise you on legal risks, and ensure your interests are protected throughout the transaction.

5. Execute the Appropriate Legal Documents

Once due diligence is satisfactory, ensure the necessary legal documents—such as a **Deed of Assignment** or other applicable instruments—are properly prepared and executed.

6. Pay Through a Traceable Channel

Avoid cash transactions where possible. Keep receipts, bank transfer records, and every document relating to the purchase.

7. Perfect Your Title

Where required, take the necessary steps to perfect your title, including obtaining the relevant government approvals and registering the transaction. This strengthens your ownership and protects your investment.

The Bottom Line

Owning property is not just about paying the purchase price.

It is about ensuring that **your ownership is legally valid, secure, and protected.

A few days of proper due diligence can save you years of litigation.

Protect your investment. Let the law guide your property transaction.

📞 Legal Clique Law Firm

Protecting your interests through sound legal counsel.

Which of these steps do you think most property buyers ignore? Let us know in the comments.

25/06/2026

"I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS" IS NOT ENOUGH
Following the story I shared earlier this week, one comment kept appearing repeatedly:
"But Barrister, the buyer said documents were signed. Doesn't that mean the land belongs to him?"
The answer may surprise you.
Many people believe that once they receive a document and append their signature, the transaction is automatically safe.
Unfortunately, the law is not that simple.
A document is only as good as the authority behind it.
Imagine paying ₦30 million for two plots of land.
The seller signs every document.
Witnesses sign.
Photographs are taken.
Receipts are issued.
Everyone congratulates you.
Then months later, you discover that the person who sold the land had no right to sell it in the first place.
Suddenly, those documents cannot magically create ownership where none existed.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in property transactions.
The real question is not:
❌ "Do I have documents?"
The real question is:
✅ "Did the person who signed these documents have the legal authority to transfer ownership?"
A forged title can have documents.
A family land dispute can have documents.
A fraudulent transaction can have documents.
What matters is whether the seller had a valid title and the legal capacity to transfer that title.
This is why lawyers insist on conducting searches before any payment is made.
The purpose of due diligence is not merely to obtain documents.
The purpose is to verify that the documents are genuine and that the person presenting them has the legal authority to act.
Before purchasing any property, ask yourself:
✔ Who is the true owner?
✔ Is the title genuine?
✔ Is the property subject to any dispute?
✔ Is it family land?
✔ Has a proper search been conducted?
Remember:
Possessing documents does not automatically mean you own the property.
The law looks beyond the paper to the legitimacy of the transaction.
📞Legal Clique Law Firm
Protecting your interests through sound legal counsel.
Have you ever heard someone say, "I have all the documents" only to later discover there was a problem with the property?
Share your experience in the comments.

24/06/2026

WHAT REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE BUYER?

Following the story I shared yesterday about the gentleman who purchased two plots of land from a trusted friend only to discover that the land was family property and that the seller had disappeared after relocating abroad, many people have asked:

"Barrister, what remedy is available to him?"

The law does not leave an innocent purchaser without recourse.

Where a person sells property without having the legal authority to do so, the purchaser may institute an action against the seller for **breach of contract**, seeking a refund of the purchase price and damages for the losses suffered.

If it is established that the seller deliberately misrepresented his ownership or knowingly deceived the purchaser, an action for fraudulent misrepresentation may also lie. In appropriate circumstances, criminal proceedings for obtaining money by false pretence may equally be initiated.

The legal principle of nemo dat quod non habet applies here a person cannot transfer a better title than he possesses. If the seller lacked the authority to sell the land, he could not pass a valid title to the purchaser.

Where the transaction concerns family land, it is important to ascertain whether the purported seller had the consent and authority of the family to alienate the property. Under Nigerian law, a sale of family land without the requisite consent may be declared void or voidable, thereby rendering the purchaser unable to acquire a valid title.

The buyer may also seek the equitable remedy of rescission, which sets aside the transaction and restores the parties to their original positions, accompanied by an order for the return of the purchase money.

The fact that the seller has left Nigeria does not automatically place him beyond the reach of the law. Depending on the circumstances and available evidence, the purchaser may explore legal measures aimed at preserving assets and recovering funds while the substantive dispute is being resolved.

However, where the true owners of the land are willing to ratify the transaction and regularize the title, an amicable settlement may be explored. Litigation should often be the last resort, especially where parties are willing to negotiate.

The painful reality is that legal remedies may help recover money, but they cannot always compensate for the stress, time, and uncertainty that could have been avoided through proper due diligence.

That is why prevention remains better than cure.

Before purchasing any property:

✅ Conduct searches.
✅ Verify title documents.
✅ Ascertain whether the property is family land.
✅ Engage a competent legal practitioner.

Trust is good, but due diligence is better.

📞Legal Clique Law Firm
Protecting your interests through sound legal counsel.

What would you do if you discovered that the seller had disappeared after collecting ₦30 million for land you cannot access? Let us know in the comments.

23/06/2026

FOLLOW-UP TO YESTERDAY'S LEGAL TIP

Yesterday, I emphasized that property should never be purchased based solely on trust, familiarity, or recommendations. It should be purchased based on due diligence and compliance with the law.

Interestingly, in the early hours of today, I received a distress call that perfectly illustrates why this advice cannot be overemphasized.

The caller, with a trembling voice, said, "Barrister, I need your help."

He narrated that about two months ago, a close friend of twelve years informed him that he was relocating abroad and wanted to sell two plots of land in Port Harcourt. According to him, the market value of the property was about ₦50 million, but his friend was willing to sell the two plots for ₦30 million.

Relying on their long-standing friendship, he paid the purchase price, and some documents were signed.

Last Saturday, however, when he visited the land to commence development, he was confronted by a group of persons who prevented him from entering the property. Upon explaining that he had purchased the land from his friend, he was informed that the property was family land and that his friend had no authority to dispose of it without the consent of the family.

Since then, all efforts to reach his friend have proved unsuccessful, and the family has refused him access to the property.

His question to me was simple:

"Barrister, what remedy is available to me?"

This is a painful reminder that trust is not a substitute for due diligence.

Knowing someone for twelve years does not automatically confer a valid title to property. Friendship does not replace a search at the Land Registry. Recommendations do not cure defects in title. And a cheap bargain can sometimes become a very expensive mistake.

Before paying for any property:

✅ Conduct proper searches.
✅ Verify ownership and title documents.
✅ Ascertain whether the property is family land or subject to any encumbrance.
✅ Engage a competent legal practitioner to carry out due diligence and prepare the necessary documents.

The law protects the vigilant, not the careless.

Have you ever encountered a similar situation or know someone who has? Share your thoughts in the comments.

📞 Legal Clique Law Firm
Protecting your interests through sound legal counsel.

23/06/2026

LEGAL TIP OF THE DAY
Never purchase property based solely on familiarity or trust. Purchase it based on due diligence and compliance with the law.
Being acquainted with the seller, having family ties, or receiving recommendations from friends does not guarantee a valid title.
Before committing your hard-earned money to any property:
✅ Conduct proper searches.
✅ Verify ownership and title documents.
✅ Ensure there are no encumbrances or disputes.
✅ Engage a competent legal practitioner to guide the transaction.
Trust is good, but due diligence is better.
Don't let familiarity cost you your investment. Let the law guide your property transactions.
📞Legal Clique Law Firm*
Protecting your interests through sound legal counsel.

Legal Clique Law Firm

17/08/2026

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29/06/2026

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23/06/2026

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