AK-AD REAL Estate Services

04/08/2026

This has to be the first thief to enforce his own rights. The first thief to apply the principle of self-help. 😂

He was caught stealing, and when private citizens tried to arrest him, he brought out a knife against them in the name of self-defence.

This is probably the most inappropriate and legally unapplicable use of self-defence.

This is why we keep saying that even thieves have a right to the dignity of the human person. A suspect should not be beaten or maltreated. However, the moment a suspect pulls out a knife against citizens trying to lawfully arrest him, the legal position changes.

Under Nigerian law, private citizens have the right to arrest a person reasonably suspected of committing an arrestable offence and hand the person over to the Police. This is called a citizen’s arrest.

So, bringing out a knife against those trying to lawfully arrest him amounts to resisting a lawful arrest. It is no longer just about the alleged theft. He has now allegedly armed himself with a dangerous weapon to resist arrest, thereby compounding his legal problems.

14/07/2026

Many Nigerians Are Signing the Wrong Document.

One common mistake I see in Nigeria is that two people agree to do business, buy land, form a partnership, or carry out a transaction, but instead of preparing an Agreement, they prepare and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

This simply shows that many people do not know the difference between a Memorandum of Understanding and an Agreement.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is generally used to record the parties’ intentions or understanding before a formal contract is entered into. It sets out what the parties hope or intend to do and often serves as a guide for future negotiations. In most cases, it is not intended to create legally enforceable obligations, unless the parties clearly express an intention to be legally bound.

An Agreement, on the other hand, is the document parties prepare when they want to create binding rights and obligations. Where it contains all the essential elements of a valid contract—offer, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, capacity, and a lawful purpose—it becomes enforceable in court.

For example, if two persons have agreed on the sale of a piece of land and have settled the purchase price, there is usually no reason to prepare an MOU. What they need is a properly drafted Sale Agreement because they have already reached a final agreement and intend to be legally bound.

The lesson is simple: Don’t choose a document because everyone else is using it. Choose the document that reflects the legal stage of your transaction. If your intention is merely to record ongoing discussions or future negotiations, an MOU may be appropriate. But if your intention is to create enforceable legal obligations, then what you need is an Agreement.

14/07/2026