CREDDE
Certified Real Estate Due Diligence Expert- Course Outline
📘 MODULE 1: Foundations of Real Estate Due Diligence
1.1 Understanding Due Diligence in the Nigerian Real Estate Context
- 📌 Meaning, scope, and purpose of real estate due diligence
- ⚖️ Legal, commercial, technical, financial, and regulatory due diligence
- ❓ Why transactions fail despite “documents on ground”
- ⚠️ Consequences of poor due diligence: fraud, demolition, revocation, litigation
1.2 Roles and Responsibilities of a Due Diligence Expert
- 👔 Distinction between legal advice, consultancy, and agency
- 🧭 Managing client expectations and professional boundaries
- 🛡️ Ethical considerations and professional liability
🏠 MODULE 2: Title Investigation & Ownership Verification
2.1 Root of Title Analysis
- 🔗 Tracing ownership from root to present
- 📄 Deed chains, family ownership, and corporate ownership
- 🚩 Common red flags in Nigerian title documents
2.2 Types of Land Titles in Practice
- 🌍 Customary title
- 📜 Certificate of Occupancy (Statutory & Customary)
- ✍️ Deed of Assignment, Sublease, and Deed of Gift
- 🗺️ Excision, Gazette, and Registered Survey
- 🏛️ Governor’s Consent and its legal implications
2.3 Practical Title Verification
- 🏢 Land Registry searches (manual & electronic)
- 📐 Surveyor-General verification
- 🏷️ Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) searches
- ⚰️ Probate Registry checks
- ⚖️ Court registry and litigation search
🏛️ MODULE 3: Government Acquisition & Planning Compliance
3.1 Government Interests & Acquisition Risks
- 🏢 Federal vs State acquisitions
- 📍 Committed, global, and revocable acquisitions
- 🧾 Excision and regularisation processes
- 💰 Compensation myths and realities
3.2 Planning & Development Compliance
- 🗂️ Zoning, land use classification, and planning permits
- 🏗️ Building approvals and development permits
- 📍 Lagos State physical planning framework in practice
- 🚫 Consequences of non-compliance: stop-work, demolition, sealing
📑 MODULE 4: Transaction Structuring & Document Review
4.1 Due Diligence in Different Transaction Types- 🏡 Outright purchase
- 🏗️ Off-plan transactions
- 🤝 Joint ventures and development partnerships
- 🏢 Corporate acquisitions and asset sales
- 📨 Letters of allocation
- 📝 Sale agreements
- 🔐 Escrow and stakeholder arrangements
- ⚖️ Payment structures and risk allocation clauses
⚠️ MODULE 5: Risk Identification, Reporting & Advisory
5.1 Identifying Red Flags & Hidden Risks- 🔁 Double allocation and multiple sales
- 👥 Community, family, and customary land disputes
- ⚖️ Pending litigation and adverse possession risks
- 🌱 Environmental and access issues
- 📊 Structuring a professional due diligence report
- 📌 Executive summaries for investors and boards
- 🧮 Risk grading and recommendation frameworks
- ⛔ When to advise “do not proceed”
🧪 MODULE 6: Practical Case Studies & Simulations
- 📍 Live case studies from Lagos, Abuja, and emerging corridors
- 🏚️ Analysis of failed transactions and demolition cases
- 📝 Mock due diligence exercise (step-by-step)
- 🗣️ Group presentations and expert feedback
🎓 MODULE 7: Professional Practice & Certification
7.1 Building a Due Diligence Practice- 💼 Pricing, retainers, and scope letters
- 🤝 Working with lawyers, surveyors, planners, and developers
- 🛡️ Managing liability and reputational risk
- 🧠 Knowledge assessment
- 📋 Practical case evaluation
- 🏅 Certification as Certified Real Estate Due Diligence Expert (CREDDE)
