Customary Land Tenure in Nigeria

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts regarding customary land tenure in Nigeria based on the lecture notes provided.

Customary Land Tenure

A system of landholding in Nigeria based on cultural practices and traditional laws.

Communal Law Tenure

A type of land tenure where ownership is collectively held by the community rather than by individuals.

Family Property

Land that is held by a family as a corporate entity, with no individual member able to claim ownership over it.

Rights of a Family Member

Entitlements that family members have regarding the use, occupation, and benefits derived from family property.

Management of Family Property

The responsibilities of the family head to oversee and make decisions regarding family land.

Alienation of Family Property

The act of transferring family land ownership, which is typically restricted under customary law.

Duty to Account

The responsibility of the family head to provide a financial account of family property management.

Termination of Family Property

The processes by which family property ceases to exist, including valid alienation and partition.

Corporate Theory of Management

A principle whereby communal land is managed on behalf of the community by a designated leader or head.

Amodu Tijani's Case

A landmark legal case that established principles regarding communal land ownership in Nigeria.

Family Landholding

A characteristic of customary law in Nigeria, where land ownership is recognized as belonging to a family unit.

Members' Rights

The entitlements of community members to access and use communal lands for personal needs.

Strangers in Communal Land

Individuals not recognized as members of the community, who may access land only through customary tenancy.

Primogeniture

A system where the deceased's property passes exclusively to the eldest son.

Widow's Rights

Generally, widows are not entitled to inherit their husband's family property under customary law.

Exclusive Possession

The right of a family member who has been allocated a portion of family land to use it exclusively.

Family Head Responsibilities

The obligations of the family head to manage and protect family property on behalf of the family.

Voidable Transactions

Legal agreements that are valid until voided by a non-consenting party, especially concerning family property.

Trusteeship Analogy

A comparison used in legal contexts, implying that the family head manages family property for the family's benefit.

Cultural Land Tenure Systems

Various customs and practices that dictate how land is owned and used within different Nigerian communities.

Family Member Allotment

The process by which individual family members receive rights to use portions of family land.