28/08/2026
An injunction in land matters in Nigeria is a court order that restrains a person or party from carrying out specific actions on a piece of land, or compels them to undo an action (such as demolishing a structure built in trespass).
Its primary purpose is to protect land rights and prevent irreparable damage or continuous trespass while ownership or possession rights are being determined in court.
Main Types of Injunctions in Nigerian Land Disputes
1. Interim Injunction
When it is used: Emergency situations where immediate action is required to prevent immediate destruction of the property.
2. Interlocutory Injunction
When it is used: To preserve the land (preserve the res) and maintain the status quo (the current state of affairs) while the trial is ongoing.
3. Permanent / Perpetual Injunction
When it is used: Granted at the end of a full trial when final judgment is delivered.
4. Mandatory Injunction vs. Prohibitory Injunction
Prohibitory: Forbids a party from doing something (e.g., stopping unauthorized building, digging, or selling of the land).
Mandatory: Orders a party to perform a corrective action (e.g., commanding a trespasser to demolish an illegal structure they built on the land).