DIGITISATION OF LAND TITLE REGISTRATION IN NIGERIA VIS A VIS ADMISSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE: LAGOS STATE CASE STUDY

Digital Land Registration and Electronic Evidence

Abstract

The digitisation of land title registration in Lagos State represents a significant step towards modernising property administration in Nigeria. Through the deployment of electronic land registries, digital document management systems, and computer-generated certificates of title, Lagos has become a national leader in integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into land governance. This transformation, however, raises complex evidentiary questions, particularly concerning the admissibility, authenticity, and probative value of digital land records in judicial proceedings. This paper analyses how the Evidence Act 2011 (as amended 2023) and the Land Registration Law of Lagos State 2015 jointly regulate electronic documents as instruments of title. It evaluates the legal standards for admitting electronically generated Certificates of Occupancy, Governor’s Consent, and Land Information Certificates, and assesses institutional and judicial responses to the emerging digital infrastructure. Drawing from comparative jurisdictions and Nigerian case law, the study identifies evidentiary challenges such as integrity risks, authentication gaps, and uneven judicial acceptance, proposing reforms aimed at strengthening digital land governance. It concludes that while Lagos provides a promising model for digital land registration, the reliability and admissibility of electronic evidence remain contingent upon robust legal, institutional, and technological safeguards.