KATAGUN SULE ALHAJI & 2 ORS VS M. E. K. ROBERTS
August 29, 2025CO-OPERATIVE SUPPLY ASSOCIATION VS INTERCOTRA LIMITED
August 29, 2025Legalpedia Citation: (1967-04) Legalpedia 56940 (SC)
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria
Holden at Abuja
Fri Apr 14, 1967
Suit Number: SC 473/1965
CORAM
BRETT JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
COKER JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
LEWIS JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT
PARTIES
NDOKUBO QUAKER DOKUBO AND ANOTHER
APPELLANTS
CHIEF DAVIES BOB-MANUEL AND OTHERS
RESPONDENTS
AREA(S) OF LAW
LAND LAW – CUSTOMARY TENANCY-FORFEITURE-PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
SUMMARY OF FACTS
The appellants erected buildings in the land in dispute which they let out to rent paying tenants without seeking or obtaining permission from the overlords, the respondents and denounced them as owners.
HELD
The court held that their acts constituted grounds for forfeiture under customary law.
ISSUES
Whether the appellants were liable for forfeiture of the Owusara land allocated in 1912 to the Quaker Bob-Manuel House under the banner of the Bob- Manuel House (respondents).
RATIONES DECIDENDI
EFFECT OF DENIAL OF OVER-LORDS TITLE BY TENANT
A denial of the title of the true over-lord is a ground for forfeiture in every system of jurisprudence. Per Coker J.S.C
EFFECT OF DENIAL OF OVER-LORD’S TITLE BY TENANT
‘A denial of the title of the true over-lord is a ground for forfeiture in every system of jurisprudence.’ Per Coker J.S.C
CASES CITED
1. Suraimoh Adegbite v. lawal (1948) 12 W.A.C.A. 398
2. Ozomagbo Ubagu and 15 others v. Chief Ozonechi Okachi and 4 others F.S.C. 484/63
STATUTES REFERRED TO
