100+ Free Bar Part I Land Law Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Bar Part I Land Law Exam

100

Practice Questions

NLS Bar Part I Land Law Prep

3 hours

Exam Duration

Council of Legal Education

LUA 1978

Primary Statute

Federal Law of Nigeria

40%

Passing Mark

CLE guidelines

₦381,000

Total Fees

Nigerian Law School 2026

Pass

Required to Proceed

Bar Part II entry requirement

The Nigerian Bar Part I Land Law exam is a crucial component of the bar bridging course for foreign-trained law graduates. Administered by the Council of Legal Education, the exam covers the unique land tenure systems in Nigeria, particularly the intersection of Customary Land Law, Received English Law, and the Land Use Act 1978. Understanding the vesting of land in Governors (Section 1), the necessity of Governor's consent for land alienation (Section 22), customary family land ownership dynamics, and the mechanisms of statutory revocation of rights of occupancy is essential to passing the 3-hour written paper.

Sample Bar Part I Land Law Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Bar Part I Land Law exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following constitutes a primary source of Nigerian Land Law?

A.Nigerian legislation, Received English Law, Customary Law, and Judicial Precedents

B.Received English Law and Islamic Law only

C.The English Land Registration Act 2002 and the Law of Property Act 1925

D.Customary declarations of traditional rulers without statutory validation

Explanation: The primary sources of Nigerian Land Law consist of local legislation (most notably the Land Use Act 1978), Received English Law (Common Law, Doctrine of Equity, and Statutes of General Application in force in England as of January 1, 1900), Customary Law (including Islamic Law), and Judicial Precedents.

2To qualify as a Statute of General Application in Nigeria under received English law, what conditions must the British statute meet?

A.It must have been in force in England on or before January 1, 1900, and must be applicable to all classes of people or courts.

B.It must have been expressly enacted for the colony of Nigeria by the British Parliament before 1960.

C.It must be a statute regulating land registry procedures enacted in England before 1925.

D.It must be approved by a majority of the State Governors in Nigeria under the Land Use Act.

Explanation: A Statute of General Application is an English statute that was in force in England on January 1, 1900, and is of general application in England to all classes of people or all courts. Examples include the Statute of Frauds 1677 and the Conveyancing Act 1881.

3In the former Western Region of Nigeria, what is the status of received English Statutes of General Application concerning property transactions?

A.They were completely repealed and replaced by the Property and Conveyancing Law (PCL) 1959.

B.They continue to apply concurrently with the Property and Conveyancing Law 1959.

C.They take priority over local statutes in the case of any conflict.

D.They apply only to transactions involving non-Nigerian citizens.

Explanation: The Western Region of Nigeria enacted the Property and Conveyancing Law (PCL) in 1959, which expressly excluded the application of English Statutes of General Application (like the Statute of Frauds or Conveyancing Act 1881) in the region, replacing them with local provisions. These states now include Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, and Delta.

4Which received English statute governs transactions and covenants in land in Lagos State and the Northern/Eastern States of Nigeria?

A.The Conveyancing Act 1881

B.The Property and Conveyancing Law 1959

C.The Law of Property Act 1925

D.The Real Property Act 1845

Explanation: The Conveyancing Act 1881 is a Statute of General Application that remains applicable to property transactions in Lagos, the Northern states, and the Eastern states of Nigeria, as these jurisdictions did not enact a comprehensive property code like the Western Region's PCL 1959.

5What is the position of customary land law where it conflicts with the express provisions of a local Nigerian statute?

A.The statute prevails, and the customary law is void to the extent of the inconsistency.

B.Customary law prevails as it represents the indigenous heritage of the people.

C.The dispute must be referred to the traditional rulers Council for final determination.

D.The High Court must apply the doctrine of equity to balance the two systems equally.

Explanation: Under the Nigerian legal system, local statutes (such as the Land Use Act 1978 or State Land Instruments Registration Laws) override customary law. Any customary rule or practice that is inconsistent with a validly enacted statute is void to the extent of that inconsistency.

6For Islamic customary law (Maliki School) to be applied in a land dispute in Northern Nigeria, how is it categorized by the courts?

A.As a form of customary law which must be proved by evidence unless judicially noticed

B.As a statutory law that automatically overrides all state land regulations

C.As Received English Law under the Supreme Court Ordinance

D.As an absolute code that is exempt from the Land Use Act 1978

Explanation: Islamic law (specifically of the Maliki School) is applied in parts of Northern Nigeria as customary law. Like other forms of customary law, it must be established by evidence or judicial notice, and its application is subject to the Land Use Act and other statutes.

7What is the test of validity that customary land rules must pass before they can be enforced by a Nigerian court?

A.They must not be repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience, nor incompatible with any written law.

B.They must be certified by the local government chairman and the Ministry of Lands.

C.They must have been recorded in a written code during the pre-colonial era.

D.They must be observed by at least ninety percent of the communities in the state.

Explanation: For any customary rule (including land customs) to be enforceable in a Nigerian court, it must pass the validity tests: it must not be repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience, and must not be incompatible with any written law (statute) currently in force.

8How does a party prove the existence of a specific customary land tenure rule in a Nigerian court?

A.By calling witnesses acquainted with the custom, or by referring to books of authority and judicial precedents

B.By submitting a written declaration signed by the Governor of the State

C.By producing a registered Deed of Customary Conveyance from the land registry

D.By demonstrating that the land has a Certificate of Occupancy

Explanation: Customary law is a question of fact that must be proved by evidence, which includes calling traditional chiefs, elders, or experts, or by citing judicial precedents where the custom has been judicially noticed, or referencing recognized legal treatises.

9In the context of the received doctrine of equity, what is the effect of an equitable interest in land compared to a legal interest in Nigeria?

A.An equitable interest is weaker than a legal interest and is defeated by a bona fide purchaser of the legal estate for value without notice.

B.An equitable interest is completely void under the Land Use Act 1978.

C.An equitable interest automatically takes priority over any registered legal interest.

D.An equitable interest can only be created by the Federal Government.

Explanation: In Nigeria, as in English law, an equitable interest (such as an agreement for a lease or a mortgage by deposit of title deeds) is right in personam and is defeated by a bona fide purchaser of the legal estate for value without notice ('the Equity Darling').

10Which Nigerian appellate court decisions constitute binding precedents on state High Courts regarding land law matters?

A.Decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Court of Appeal of Nigeria

B.Decisions of the English Court of Appeal and House of Lords

C.Only decisions of the High Court of the same state sitting in bank

D.Decisions of the Land Use Allocation Committee of the state

Explanation: Under the doctrine of stare decisis in Nigeria, decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Court of Appeal are binding precedents on all lower courts, including State High Courts. English decisions are merely persuasive, and LUAC is an administrative committee, not a court.

About the Bar Part I Land Law Exam

The Nigerian Bar Part I Land Law exam is a compulsory bar integration paper for foreign-trained law graduates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar. It tests candidate knowledge on customary land law (including family land management, partition, and customary tenancies), received English land law (including leases, mortgages, covenants, and easements), and the statutory land administration regime introduced by the Land Use Act of 1978, including the vesting of land in Governors, Governor's consent requirements for alienation, and revocation of rights of occupancy.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

40%

Exam Fee

₦381,000 (Council of Legal Education (CLE) / Nigerian Law School)

Bar Part I Land Law Exam Content Outline

30%

Customary Land Tenure & Family Land

Communal and family land management, partition, customary tenancies, pledges, and Kola tenancies.

25%

The Land Use Act: Vesting & Administration

Vesting under Section 1, urban/non-urban land division, statutory and customary rights of occupancy, and deemed grants.

20%

The Land Use Act: Alienation & Mortgages

Governor's consent requirements under Section 22, legal and equitable mortgages, and consequences of lack of consent under Section 26.

15%

The Land Use Act: Revocation & Compensation

Grounds for revocation under Section 28, notice requirements, and statutory compensation for improvements under Section 29.

10%

Received English Law & Title Registration

Conveyancing Act 1881, PCL 1959, leases, easements, covenants, and land instrument registration laws.

How to Pass the Bar Part I Land Law Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 40%
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: ₦381,000

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
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Bar Part I Land Law Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the key sections of the Land Use Act 1978, especially Section 1 (vesting), Section 22 (Governor's consent), Section 26 (voidness), Section 28 (revocation), and Section 29 (compensation).

2Be prepared to cite foundational Supreme Court decisions such as Savannah Bank v. Ajilo (consent), Coker v. Oguntade (voidable family land sale), Esan v. Faro (void family land sale), and Adole v. Gwar (C of O title).

3Understand the difference in mortgage creation between the Conveyancing Act 1881 (applicable in Lagos/East/North) and the Property and Conveyancing Law 1959 (applicable in Western states).

4Learn the strict statutory timelines for recovery of premises (Notice to Quit periods and Owner's Intention to recover).

5Practice analyzing customary land pledges, focusing on the maxim 'once a pledge, always a pledge' and the inapplicability of limitation laws to pledges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the Nigerian Bar Part I land law exam?

The Bar Part I Land Law exam is a 3-hour written paper administered by the Nigerian Law School. It generally features a combination of multi-part essay problem questions (which require legal analysis and case citation) and multiple-choice questions.

Who must sit for the Bar Part I examination?

All foreign-trained law graduates who have obtained an LL.B or equivalent from a common law country must sit and pass the Bar Part I examination at the Nigerian Law School before they can proceed to the vocational Bar Part II (Bar Finals) stage.

What are the passing requirements for the Bar Part I examination?

Candidates must achieve a passing mark (usually 40%) in all four core subjects: Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Nigerian Land Law, and the Nigerian Legal System. Failing a subject requires the candidate to resit the paper.

How does the Land Use Act 1978 affect customary land ownership?

The Land Use Act 1978 divested absolute customary ownership (radical title) and vested it in State Governors (Section 1). However, it preserved customary possession in the form of deemed customary rights of occupancy (Section 36) managed by local governments, while private transactions remain subject to consent requirements.