Asset Tracing & Recovery in Nigeria | Tenaza Asset Recovery & Intelligence

What is Asset Tracing?

Without effective asset tracing, a court judgment is just a piece of paper. With it, enforcement becomes targeted and decisive — garnishee proceedings hit the right accounts, writs of execution attach the right property, and settlement negotiations proceed from a position of informed leverage.

Tenaza is Nigeria's leading asset tracing firm, combining 22+ years of recovery experience, direct integration with Nigerian credit bureaus, and operational reach across 40+ countries. We have recovered over $600M for our clients at a 94% recovery rate on engaged portfolios.

94%

Recovery Rate

$600M+

Recovered

22+

Years

40+

Countries

When You Need Asset Tracing

Asset tracing is essential — not optional — in these situations:

Debtor claims inability to pay but you suspect concealment of income, property, or business interests
Pre-litigation strategy — before filing suit, you need to know whether the debtor has attachable assets worth the legal cost
Post-judgment enforcement — you have a judgment but no idea where the debtor's bank accounts, property, or vehicles are located
Skip debtors — the debtor has disappeared, changed phone numbers, vacated the registered address
Suspected fraudulent transfers — assets may have been moved to family members, nominees, or shell companies in the past 2–5 years
Cross-border exposure — the debtor may be holding assets offshore (UK, UAE, USA, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, offshore jurisdictions)
AMCON-acquired portfolios — distressed loans often have "cold" asset positions requiring fresh intelligence
Due diligence before engagement — verifying a counterparty's actual asset position before committing credit, investment, or partnership

Tenaza's Asset Tracing Capabilities

Credit Bureau Intelligence

Direct REST API integration with FirstCentral Credit Bureau, plus access to CRC and CreditRegistry. We identify every credit facility, banking relationship, loan exposure, and payment pattern across the Nigerian financial system.

Corporate Affairs Searches

Comprehensive CAC searches identifying every company in which the debtor holds directorship, shareholding, or beneficial ownership — including shell companies registered in family members' names.

Land Registry Investigation

Property searches across Lagos State, FCT Abuja, and all 36 Nigerian state land registries. Locates real estate holdings registered directly, through nominees, or through corporate vehicles.

Vehicle & Asset Verification

State vehicle licensing authority searches, marine and aviation registry checks, and physical verification of high-value movable assets including equipment, inventory, and plant.

Field Intelligence

On-ground investigation by trained operatives — verifying debtor location, lifestyle indicators, business activity, and asset positions through discreet, lawful means in all major Nigerian cities.

Cross-Border Tracing

Locating assets held abroad — offshore corporate structures, foreign real estate, overseas bank accounts — through verified partner firms in 40+ countries including the UK, UAE, USA, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, BVI, and across Europe.

Social Media & OSINT

Open-source intelligence techniques including social media analysis, digital footprint mapping, and public records cross-referencing — often revealing lifestyle inconsistencies that expose hidden wealth.

TRAX Intelligence Platform

Tenaza's proprietary AI-powered platform integrates all intelligence sources into a unified debtor profile, with automated pattern detection, risk scoring, and strategy recommendation. Significantly faster than manual tracing.

Skip Tracing: Finding Debtors Who Vanish

Skip tracing is the specialised sub-discipline of asset tracing focused on locating people rather than property. Evasive debtors who change phone numbers, relocate, abandon registered addresses, or attempt to vanish into anonymity require focused investigation.

Tenaza locates absconded debtors through:

Public-record cross-referencing across NIMC, FRSC, CAC, and electoral records
Telecommunications intelligence through lawful channels
Social network analysis mapping personal and business relationships
Field intelligence from established operative networks in every major Nigerian state
International tracing where the debtor has relocated abroad
Family tree mapping — spouses, siblings, adult children often hold assets or know current whereabouts

People don't disappear in 2026. Their digital, registry, and relational footprints remain. The work is knowing which databases to query, in which order, and what patterns to look for.

Our Engagement Process

Free Initial Consultation

We assess your matter in a complimentary call. We review the debt documentation, prior recovery attempts, known debtor information, and your objectives. We confirm whether asset tracing is viable before you commit.

Scoping & Engagement Letter

Clear deliverables, timeline, and fixed-fee pricing. No hidden costs. You know exactly what to expect before any investigative work begins. NDPR-compliant engagement terms covering data handling and confidentiality.

Investigation Phase (14–60 days)

Multi-source intelligence gathering through our TRAX platform — credit bureau pulls, CAC searches, land registry investigation, field verification, and cross-border tracing as required. Interim progress updates every 14 days.

Asset Discovery Report

Formal documented findings with verified asset positions. Each identified asset includes location, estimated value, ownership structure, and recommended enforcement route. Suitable for court use where required.

Recovery Action (Optional)

Coordinated enforcement targeting the identified assets — garnishee proceedings, writs of execution, charging orders, winding-up petitions, or negotiated settlement from a position of leverage. Executed through our legal network or your preferred counsel.

Costs & Timelines

Engagement Type	Typical Timeline	Fee Structure
Standard Nigerian corporate tracing	14–30 days	Fixed fee from ₦500,000
Complex multi-entity Nigerian tracing	30–60 days	Fixed fee + success bonus
Skip tracing (locating debtor)	7–30 days	Fixed fee from ₦350,000
Cross-border tracing (per jurisdiction)	21–60 days	Per-jurisdiction pricing
Full forensic recovery (tracing + enforcement)	60–180 days	Retainer + contingency on recovered amount

All pricing is scope-dependent and confirmed in writing before engagement. No hidden costs.

Industries We Serve

Our asset tracing engagements span the full spectrum of institutions managing receivables risk in Nigeria:

Tier 1 and Tier 2 Nigerian banks (commercial and merchant)
Fintech and digital lenders with portfolio-scale default exposure
AMCON-acquired loan portfolios requiring fresh intelligence
Foreign creditors with Nigerian debtors
Nigerian creditors recovering from debtors abroad
Insolvency practitioners (receivers, liquidators, administrators)
Law firms requiring investigative support for ongoing litigation
Multinational corporates with trade debt or guarantee exposure
Asset management companies holding distressed loan portfolios
Oil & gas, telecommunications, real estate, and manufacturing creditors

Frequently Asked Questions

What is asset tracing in Nigeria?

Asset tracing is the investigative process of identifying, locating, and verifying assets owned or controlled by a debtor — including assets they have hidden, transferred to third parties, restructured into shell companies, or moved offshore. In Nigeria, this involves searches of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), land registries, credit bureaus (FirstCentral, CRC, CreditRegistry), vehicle licensing authorities, and field intelligence.

How long does asset tracing take in Nigeria?

Standard asset tracing assignments in Nigeria take 14 to 60 days depending on the complexity of the debtor's financial footprint. Simple corporate debtors with Nigerian-only assets typically complete in 2 to 3 weeks. Complex cases involving offshore structures, multiple nominees, or evasive principals can extend to 60 days or longer.

How much does asset tracing cost in Nigeria?

Tenaza offers asset tracing on a fixed-fee basis with scope-dependent pricing. Standard Nigerian corporate tracing typically ranges from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million depending on complexity. Cross-border tracing involving offshore jurisdictions is priced per jurisdiction. All engagements include a formal Asset Discovery Report with verified findings.

Can Tenaza trace assets held offshore by Nigerian debtors?

Yes. Tenaza operates across 40+ countries through verified partner firms and investigators, enabling asset tracing in major offshore jurisdictions including the UK, UAE, USA, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, BVI, Cayman Islands, and across Europe. Cross-border tracing follows all applicable legal frameworks and data protection requirements in each jurisdiction.

What is skip tracing and how is it different from asset tracing?

Skip tracing is the specialised process of locating people — typically debtors who have changed addresses, phone numbers, or jurisdictions to avoid contact. Asset tracing locates property, bank accounts, and other recoverable items. Both are often needed together: once a debtor is located via skip tracing, their current asset position is mapped via asset tracing. Tenaza provides both as integrated services.

Is asset tracing legal in Nigeria?

Yes. Asset tracing is a legitimate investigative service governed by the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), the Credit Reporting Act 2017, and all applicable corporate transparency laws. Tenaza operates in full compliance with these frameworks, obtains data only through lawful channels, and provides findings suitable for court proceedings where enforcement is required.

What information do I need to provide to start an asset tracing engagement?

At minimum, we need the debtor's known particulars (name, any known addresses, ID numbers if available, phone numbers), evidence of the debt (loan agreement, invoice, judgment where applicable), and records of any prior recovery attempts. The more information you provide, the faster and more targeted the investigation.

Need to Locate Hidden Assets?

Free, confidential consultation. We assess viability before you commit. A senior investigator reviews your matter and outlines a tracing plan — at no obligation.

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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Asset tracing engagements are governed by formal engagement letters that set out scope, pricing, confidentiality, and NDPR compliance. All investigative activity is conducted through lawful channels only.