Most preventable property transaction mistakes happen in the 24 to 48 hours before funds are transferred. This is the window when urgency from sellers or agents, excitement about completing the purchase, and the false comfort of prior due diligence work leads buyers to skip final checks that would have caught problems. This checklist is designed for the last working day before you authorise a payment transfer. Run through it completely before you send any funds.
1. Verify the receiving account details directly with your solicitor — not via WhatsApp or email
Account substitution fraud (also called business email compromise in financial contexts) is a real risk in Nigerian property transactions. A fraudster who has intercepted your email communication with a seller or agent can substitute their account details in a "final payment instruction" message that looks legitimate. Before transferring any amount, call your solicitor or the receiving party directly on a phone number you sourced independently — not a number forwarded in the same message that contains the account details — and verbally confirm the account name, number, and bank. Do not skip this step regardless of how well you know the parties involved.
2. Confirm all original documents are in hand or agreed escrow
Confirm that the original title document (C of O or Deed of Assignment), the original survey plan, and any other documents specified in your sale agreement are either in your solicitor's possession or in agreed legal escrow pending final payment. If original documents are not confirmed as available, your payment should not proceed. Agreements to deliver documents after payment regularly produce post-payment delays and leverage disputes.
3. Check that the Deed of Assignment has been executed correctly
The Deed of Assignment must be signed by the seller or their authorised attorney, witnessed by at least two witnesses (who are not parties to the transaction), and dated. Confirm that the names in the Deed match the names on the title document and the names on identification documents. Confirm that the property description in the Deed matches the survey plan reference. If there are any blanks in the Deed or any variation from the agreed terms, do not proceed until corrections are made and re-executed.
4. Confirm the Lands Bureau search result is current
A title search result that is more than 30 days old should be refreshed before completion. Properties can be mortgaged, subjected to court orders, or transferred in the period between your initial search and your payment date. A current search confirms the title is still clean and unencumbered at the point of transfer. This is your solicitor's responsibility, but confirm it has been done within the last 14 days before authorising payment.
5. Verify that outstanding charges are cleared
Confirm that land use charges, ground rent, and any estate association arrears on the property have been paid and that you have written evidence of current standing. These charges transfer to the buyer at completion. An unverified statement from the seller that charges are current is not acceptable evidence. Request receipts or official statements issued in the last 30 days.
6. Confirm possession handover arrangements in writing
Confirm the possession date and handover process in writing before payment. This includes: who will be present at handover, the condition of the property at handover (vacant, as inspected, or with specific items included), the process for key and access document transfer, and what the remediation process is if the property is not in agreed condition on the handover date. An oral agreement on possession that is not written is not enforceable without significant effort after payment has been made.
7. Confirm that all conditional terms have been satisfied
If your sale agreement included conditions precedent — title verification, bank approval, development consent, or the clearance of an existing tenancy — confirm in writing that each condition has been satisfied before authorising payment. A condition that has been verbally waived or "in progress" is not a satisfied condition. If conditions are outstanding, they should be reflected in revised agreement terms or a formal written waiver from both parties before funds move.
8. Confirm your solicitor has no outstanding concerns
The final check is the simplest: call your solicitor and ask directly — "Is there anything outstanding that would give you concern about this payment going out today?" If the answer is yes or if there is any hesitation, stop. The cost of a one-day delay to resolve a concern is zero. The cost of discovering a problem after payment is transferred is measured in legal fees, dispute time, and potential capital loss.
Fast transactions are good. Controlled transactions are better.
Sellers and agents often create urgency around completion. Urgency is sometimes genuine — a competing offer, a time-sensitive contract, a commercial deadline. It is sometimes manufactured to compress the buyer's verification window. Either way, a 24-hour checklist that your solicitor confirms is complete costs nothing and protects the full transaction value. No legitimate seller or agent should object to a buyer confirming that their legal documents are in order before authorising payment.