Debt Recovery · Lagos

How to Recover a Debt in Lagos

If someone in Lagos owes you money and refuses to pay, the Small Claims Court gives you a faster, cheaper route than a full civil suit — designed so you can represent yourself, without a lawyer in the hearing itself.

At a glance

Claim limit: ₦5,000,000
Courts: Lagos State's Small Claims Courts sit across its magisterial districts, including Ikeja, Lagos (Island), Yaba, Apapa, Ikorodu, Badagry, and Epe. You file in the district covering where the person who owes you lives, works, or does business.
Response period: The person you're claiming from has 14 days to respond to your Letter of Demand before you can escalate.
Filing fee: Assessed at the registry based on your claim amount.

The process

  1. Send a written Letter of Demand to the person who owes you, stating the amount and a deadline to pay.
  2. If they don't pay within the response period, file a claim at the Small Claims Court covering their address, workplace, or place of business.
  3. The court hears the matter with simplified procedure — no formal pleadings, plain English, no lawyers required.
  4. If you win, the court issues a judgment. If it's still not paid, you can apply to enforce it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a lawyer to use the Small Claims Court in Lagos?

No. Nigeria's Small Claims Courts are specifically designed for self-representation — lawyers are generally not permitted to appear for either party in the hearing itself. Where Pandas LP helps is earlier: preparing your Letter of Demand and, if you choose, serving it and filing the claim on your behalf.

What happens before I can file a claim?

You must first send the person who owes you a Letter of Demand and give them a chance to pay before you can file at the Small Claims Court. This is a mandatory step, not optional — the court will expect proof you sent one.

What kind of claims does this court handle?

Simple, liquidated money claims only — a specific, undisputed sum owed to you. It does not handle land disputes, criminal matters, or claims where the amount is genuinely contested on complex legal grounds.

Ready to take action?

We interview you, draft your Letter of Demand on firm letterhead, and file at the Small Claims Court on your behalf — from ₦10,000.

Start Your Claim →