Illegal Eviction in Lagos: What Tenants Need to Know
Section 44 of the Lagos Tenancy Law 2011 makes forcibly evicting a tenant an offence. Learn what counts as illegal eviction and how to protect yourself.
Eviction disputes are common in Lagos, but landlords cannot simply throw a tenant out of a property without following the strict legal procedure.
The Prohibition of Self-Help
Under Section 44 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, it is an offence for anyone to forcibly eject (or try to forcibly eject) a tenant, to threaten or molest a tenant to force them out, or to demolish or alter the building to eject a tenant without the court’s approval. The penalty is a fine of up to ₦250,000 or up to six months’ imprisonment. Section 8 also says a landlord must not disturb your quiet enjoyment of the home, cut off a common facility or service, or seize your belongings.
Self-help includes acts such as:
- Removing the roof or doors of the premises
- Disconnecting the electricity or water supply
- Changing the locks to deny the tenant access
The Legal Eviction Process
A landlord must issue the appropriate statutory notices (e.g., Notice to Quit and Notice of Owner’s Intention to Recover Possession) and obtain a valid court order before evicting a tenant. Section 13 sets the notice periods when your agreement is silent: one week for a tenant at will, one month for a monthly tenant, three months for a quarterly or half-yearly tenant, and six months for a yearly tenant.
Note: the 2011 Law does not apply in Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island (Section 1(3)).
If you are facing illegal eviction threats, or if you are a landlord wanting to ensure your agreements are airtight, the MYEASYAGENT Agreement Clinic can provide the necessary legal guidance and vetting.