Legal Remedies for Tenants Facing Unlawful Eviction in Ibadan: An Empirical Study

Unlawful eviction constitutes a persistent violation of tenant rights in urban Nigeria, with Ibadan in Oyo State being among the cities reporting the highest incidence of self-help evictions by landlords. This study examines the legal remedies available to tenants facing unlawful eviction in Ibadan under the Recovery of Premises Law of Oyo State, the Rent Control Law, and general tort principles. Employing an empirical methodology, the research surveys 200 tenants and 50 landlords in Ibadan's densely populated suburbs of Agodi, Bodija, and Iyaganku, supplemented by analysis of 30 cases from the Oyo State Magistrates Court and High Court decided between 2020 and 2024. Findings reveal that the majority of evictions are carried out without a court order and that affected tenants rarely seek formal redress due to ignorance of legal rights, cost of litigation, and fear of landlord retaliation. The study further examines how the inadequacy of legal aid services in Ibadan compounds access to justice challenges for low-income tenants. Comparative analysis with Lagos and Enugu provides a useful framework for reform recommendations, which include the establishment of rent dispute tribunals, mandatory tenant rights education programmes, and reform of the legal aid scheme to cover housing disputes. Keywords: unlawful eviction, tenant rights, landlord-tenant law, Ibadan, housing law