The day I watched a man nearly lose his land because of one signature

This happened in 2011, a land matter in Ikeja. The man had been living on that property for 22 years. He had receipts, he had the survey plan, he had everything.

But the other party brought one document. A deed of assignment with his signature on it. He swore he never signed anything. I looked at the signature, then looked at him. His hand was shaking.

See ehn, in law, a signature is not just ink. It is consent. It is agreement. It is you saying yes to something even when you were not there in person. Many Nigerians sign documents they never read. Many sign under pressure, under drink, under threat. And then 20 years later, somebody uses that same signature to take everything.

We sent the document for forensic examination. It came back inconclusive. The case dragged for another 3 years. He won eventually, but the stress took his wife. She died before judgment.

The law can give you back your land. It cannot give you back your years. So before you sign anything, read am. If you cannot read am, pay somebody who can. Abeg.