PROPER SALE OF FAMILY LAND

The law is that family land can only be sold by the family head or Mogaji with the concurrence of principal members of the family.

– Ogunwumiju JCA. Awure v. Iledu (2007)

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ONLY SONS INHERITING PROPERTY IS REPUGNANT

Appellants had relied on their customs, to say that only biological sons of a family can inherit their fathers landed property. Of course, such old and oppressive laws in Igbo land have since been reviewed by case law, pursuant to Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

– Mbaba JCA. Aduba v. Aduba (2018)

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HEAVY BURDEN IS ON HE WHO ASSERTS AGAINST FAMILY LAND

Having found that the plaintiffs failed to prove either ownership or exclusive possession which they pleaded the court below ought to have held that they d id not prove their case and should have dismissed it. The onus of proof was on the plaintiffs. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that it has been established by a long line of decided cases that one of the incidents of our traditional communal ownership of land is that once it is admitted that a particular piece of land belongs to a family, the law places a rather heavy burden of proof on any person or group which asserts exclusivity of ownership or possession against the family or any person claiming through them. Mere evidence of occupation and user by a member of the family is not conclusive as against the family or a person who claims through the family.

— Nnaemeka-Agu, JSC. Adesanya v Otuewu (1993) – SC.217/1989

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FAMILY HEAD & PRINCIPAL MEMBERS MUST CONCUR FOR SALE OF FAMILY LAND

The law is also that where there is alienation of family land by sale as in this case the family head and principal members must concur therein. The transaction is void where these persons are not involved. These persons must act in a representative rather than personal capacity. Let us assume that the 3rd plaintiff and some family members concurred in the original sale to the respondent while expressing themselves to be acting on behalf of the family, the sale is valid but voidable at the instance of members of the family whose consent was necessary but not obtained.

– Ogunwumiju JCA. Awure v. Iledu (2007)

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UNPARTITIONED FAMILY LAND

It is trite that an unpartitoned family land is prima facie family land. And a holder of such unpartitioned family land cannot devise same to his children; See OKE v. OKE (1974) ALL N.L.R.401.

– Denton West JCA. Salaja v. Salaja (2013)

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MANAGEMENT BY THE WHITE CAP CHIEF

If the appellant is entitled to exercise the usual powers of the Chief or family head in the management of the family property, he is also entitled to the relief he asks for, since it is not pretended that the settlement enables the respondents, or the family council less the Chief, to dispose of the family property without the consent of the Chief. If, on the other hand, the appellant is not entitled to exercise any powers of management over the family property then he cannot obtain any relief, whatever the effect of the settlement may be. If this view is correct, the only question which the Court has to decide is whether the appellant has the usual powers of the Chief or family head.

– Brett F.J. Ajibola v. Ojora (1961)

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PROPER SALE OF FAMILY LAND

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ONLY SONS INHERITING PROPERTY IS REPUGNANT

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HEAVY BURDEN IS ON HE WHO ASSERTS AGAINST FAMILY LAND

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FAMILY HEAD & PRINCIPAL MEMBERS MUST CONCUR FOR SALE OF FAMILY LAND

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UNPARTITIONED FAMILY LAND

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MANAGEMENT BY THE WHITE CAP CHIEF

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