Recovery of Premises

Definition of Terms

Term	Definition	Authority
Landlord	The person entitled to title and ownership right and immediate reversion of the premises - includes attorney, solicitor, agent, caretaker; any person receiving rent or with right to; a former landlord where context requires.	S2 Recovery of Premises Act 1990 Abuja; S47 Tenancy Law 2011 Lagos
Tenant	Any person who holds, uses or occupies another person’s property temporarily for a term certain or fixed duration by agreement, with or without rent. Does NOT include a person occupying under a bona fide claim to be the owner. The requirement is “Lawful Occupation”. Includes sub-tenant and Service Tenants.	S2 RPA Abuja; S47 Tenancy Law Lagos; Okedare v Hanid (1955) 15 WACA 17; Sule v Nig Cotton Board (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt 5) 17; Oduye v Nig Airways (1987) 4 SCNJ 40
Premises	House, building with appurtenances and land without any building thereon. In Lagos, includes premises used for business, residential and non-residential purposes.	S2 RPA Abuja; S47 Tenancy Law Lagos

Applicable Laws

Abuja

1. Recovery of Premises Act (Cap 544) LFN, 1990;
2. District Courts (Increase in Jurisdiction of District Court Judges) Order 2021;
3. High Court of FCT Abuja (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018.

Lagos

1. Lagos State Tenancy Law (No 14) 2011;
2. Recovery of Premises Law (Cap 118) Laws of Lagos State, 1973;
3. Magistrate Courts Law (No 16) Lagos State, 2009;
4. High Court of Lagos State (CP) Rules 2019.