Avoid Property Scams in Nigeria

The paperwork that protects you

We will not sell a property without a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). In our experience a power of attorney or a deed of allocation is not a substitute for it.

Before you pay, your property lawyer should confirm the original C of O, the governor's consent, an AGIS search (Abuja Geographic Information Systems) and a court search, and should confirm that the name of the seller or selling company matches what those records show. A surveyor should confirm that the plot on the ground matches the C of O.

• Original Certificate of Occupancy in the seller's name
• Governor's consent (your lawyer will confirm when it applies, for example inside some estates)
• AGIS search for Abuja property
• Court search, because a property may be caught up in a legal dispute
• Survey of the plot against the C of O and the Abuja master plan
• A property lawyer who understands how property scams work

Red flags to stop for

A scam can look professional at first. The warning signs usually appear in the process: the agent blocks inspection, the seller is vague, the title cannot be reviewed or payment is demanded too early.

A genuine property transaction can move quickly while still allowing verification.

• No live inspection option
• No clear seller identity
• Documents are missing or only shown as screenshots
• Agent discourages lawyer review
• Payment account does not match the seller story
• Price is far below the area without a clear reason

Safe buying process

Start with the property, not the payment. Confirm the property exists, confirm who owns it, confirm that the documents match the property and then agree terms in writing.

For land, confirm boundaries and survey details. For a house, inspect both structure and legal documents.

• Physical or live video inspection before payment
• Seller authority and ownership story checked before closing
• Title documents sent for buyer-side lawyer review
• Traceable bank payment process with written transaction steps

How Mansa Luxe protects buyers

We make inspection and verification part of the sales process because our reputation depends on buyers completing clean transactions.

If a buyer wants their own lawyer to verify documents, that is a good sign, not an obstacle.