Not necessarily. In Nigeria, contributing money towards the construction of a property does not automatically mean that you are entitled to half of the property if the marriage ends in divorce.
The important issue is whether you can establish the nature and extent of your contribution and whether there is evidence showing that you contributed to the acquisition or development of the property.
For example, if a house cost ₦1.5 million to build and you contributed ₦150,000 towards its construction, your direct financial contribution would represent 10% of the construction cost.
That does not, however, mean that the court will automatically award you exactly 10% of the property. The court will consider the facts and evidence surrounding the property and the contributions made by both spouses.
Your contribution may also go beyond the money you paid. Depending on the circumstances, the court may consider other forms of contribution to the marriage and the acquisition or development of the property.
For instance, if you provided substantial support during the construction, helped manage or supervise the project, or made other provable contributions that assisted in the development of the property, those facts may be relevant.
The current value of the property can also become important when the court is determining an appropriate settlement.
So, if a property that was originally developed at a much lower cost has significantly increased in value by the time of the divorce, the court may consider its present circumstances rather than simply returning the exact amount you originally contributed.
Most importantly, keep evidence of your contribution. Bank transfers, receipts, messages, agreements, building-related payments and other documents can help establish what you actually contributed.
There is no general rule that says a wife automatically receives half of her husband’s property simply because she contributed some money towards it. Likewise, it would be wrong to assume that a spouse can only recover the exact amount of money they contributed.
The outcome depends on the facts of the case, the nature of the property, the evidence available and the applicable Nigerian law.
If you are dealing with a real divorce or property dispute, it is advisable to have a Nigerian family-law lawyer examine the documents and circumstances of the property before making any claim or settlement decision.
