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The short answer
Yes, if it is executed properly. Nigerian practice guidance says a power of attorney signed outside Nigeria should be witnessed by a notary public, judge or magistrate; it is then usually legalised at a Nigerian mission, stamped once it reaches Nigeria, and registered at the state land registry if it concerns land. An unregistered power over land may be inadmissible in court.
A power of attorney (POA) lets someone in Nigeria act for you while you are abroad: collecting rent, dealing with a bank, managing a building project, or selling land. Signing it in London, Houston or Dubai is common. Whether it then works in Nigeria depends less on where you signed and more on four steps: how it was witnessed, whether it was legalised, whether it was stamped, and whether it was registered. This is general information, not legal advice; for land, use a Nigerian lawyer.
Execution abroad: who must witness
A practice guide by Moruff O. Balogun on LawPavilion states that a POA executed outside Nigeria "must be witnessed by either a Notary Public or a Judge or Magistrate". Attestation by a notary is advisable in any case because it gives a presumption of due execution. The Evidence Act 2011 supports this: section 122(2)(e) lets Nigerian courts take judicial notice of the seals of notaries public.
- Sign in front of the notary; do not pre-sign.
- Bring original photo ID; notaries must check it.
- If the POA is a deed, it should say so and be signed and delivered as a deed.
- Make sure the attorney's full name matches their Nigerian ID exactly.
Legalisation: the step people skip
Nigeria is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; the HCCH status table, updated 30 June 2026, does not list it. An apostille from your country of residence is therefore not the end of the process. The usual chain is notary, then your country's foreign ministry or competent authority, then the Nigerian mission. See notarising a document abroad for use in Nigeria and does Nigeria accept an apostille.
Whether a bank or registry insists on mission legalisation varies. Ask the person who will receive the POA before you pay for every layer.
Stamping
A POA attracts stamp duty. The LawPavilion guide says it bears a fixed duty under state stamp duty laws. The Nigeria Tax Act 2025, in force from 1 January 2026, now governs stamp duties: an April 2026 journal analysis notes that section 126(1) requires instruments to be stamped within 30 days of execution and section 127(1) makes an unstamped dutiable instrument inadmissible in civil proceedings.
Registration where land is involved
LawPavilion describes a POA as a registrable instrument under state Land Instruments Registration Laws, adding that where it confers an interest in land, "stamping precedes registration and both are required". Non-registration can make it inadmissible as evidence. Two Supreme and Appeal Court points cited there are worth knowing:
- A POA is a delegation of authority; it does not itself transfer title (Ude v Uwara).
- Granting a POA over land does not by itself alienate the land (Muhammed v Farmers Supply Co). A sale still needs a deed of assignment and the Governor's consent under section 22 of the Land Use Act.
For the Nigerian side of a land transaction, read title checks in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Checklist before you sign
- Ask the recipient (bank, registry, lawyer) what format and wording they accept.
- Draft it narrowly: name the property, account or task, and set an end date where possible.
- Sign before a notary and keep a certified copy.
- Legalise at your country's competent authority and the Nigerian mission if the recipient requires it.
- Courier the original; ask the attorney to stamp it and, for land, register it.
- Keep a scan of every stage in case you later need to revoke it; see revoking a power of attorney.
Worked example
Example only: Bola, in Manchester, wants her brother to manage the sale of a plot in Ibadan. Her Nigerian lawyer drafts a specific POA. She signs before a Manchester notary, obtains an apostille from the UK legalisation office, has it legalised by the Nigeria High Commission, and couriers the original. Her brother has it stamped within days of receipt and registered at the Oyo land registry before any buyer is introduced.
Bank accounts and other non-land uses
Not every power of attorney concerns land. Many diaspora POAs let a relative operate a bank account, deal with a pension administrator, collect documents or sign for a vehicle. Banks usually have their own mandate rules and may refuse a general power drafted for another purpose, so ask the bank for its wording before you sign. Keep these powers narrow: name the account, the acts allowed and an end date. A general power over "all my affairs" is easy to misuse and harder to unwind. If the attorney will deal with several institutions, one specific power per institution is often easier to manage and to revoke. Stamping still applies, but registration at a land registry is only needed where land is involved.
Where Pryme fits
Stamping, registration and legal fees are paid in naira. Keeping naira in a Pryme Personal Account lets you pay these directly rather than sending lump sums to the attorney, and verifiable receipts and statements give you a record of each payment.
Questions people ask
Can I sign a power of attorney abroad for land in Nigeria?
Yes. It should be witnessed by a notary, judge or magistrate, usually legalised, then stamped and registered at the state land registry.
Does a Nigerian power of attorney need an apostille?
Nigeria is not in the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone may not be enough. Ask whether the Nigerian mission must also legalise it.
Is an unregistered power of attorney valid in Nigeria?
Practice guidance says an unregistered POA over land may be inadmissible in court. For land, register it.
Can my attorney sell my land with a power of attorney?
A POA can authorise acts, but it does not transfer title. A sale still needs a deed of assignment and the Governor's consent.
Sources
- Power of Attorney in Nigeria: The Law, The Power and The Practice, LawPavilion (Moruff O. Balogun) · accessed Oct 2026
- Apostille Convention status table, HCCH (updated 30 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Stamp duties under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, NAU Journal of Private and Property Law (Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- A guide to stamp duties in Nigeria 2020, PwC · accessed Oct 2026
- Evidence Act 2011, PLAC · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.