Barrister|Arbitrator
About Me
I am a seasoned barrister with a rich blend of experience in top-end civil/commercial matters including cases with International dimensions. I have a sound academic background, having obtained my LLB (Hons) (with a first class in International law) and LLM in Public International law (with Distinction in Law of the Sea). I was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1994.
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Although available to attend other court centres, I regularly receive instructions to act for individuals and companies in commercial and construction cases in the High Court and Central London County Court. I also provide comprehensive advice in highly complex civil/commercial and construction matters to assist parties in determining their best cause of action.
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I am Public Access qualified with the extension authorisation to conduct litigation.
I have appeared in a number of notable and high-profile civil/commercial cases reported in various Law Reports, including:
Mark v Mark [2005] UKHL 42 [House of Lords] {on Illegality of Stay, Domicile and Habitual Residence. This remains a landmark case and the leading authority on domicile in English law and perhaps the most frequently cited authority in the family courts on the topic in recent times.
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AIC Ltd v Federal Government of Nigeria [2003] EWHC 1357 (QB) {on Sovereign Immunity and Civil Enforcement of Foreign Judgment}. This case is very frequently cited as authority in cases of recognition and enforcement of foreign judgment; procedure for service in enforcement of foreign judgment, and determination of "commercial purposes" of state accounts.
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Murphy Shipping v Burt [2004] All ER (D) 287 {on Worldwide Freezing Injunction}
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Attorney General of Zambia v Meer Care Desai, Chiluba and Others [2005] EWHC 2102 (Ch) {on international confiscation of proceeds of money laundering (former President Chiluba of Zambia)}.
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Recently won substantial damages for the Claimant in AUE Capital Management Ltd v Tetra Tech International Development BV (subject of non-disclosure agreement in the Chancery Division of the High Court) for breach of contract on a DfID international contract.
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I further enriched my experience when I sojourned into politics in Nigeria, rising from various sub-national positions to become a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives (20015 - 2019). In that Parliament, I was the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice. I also Chaired an Ad-hoc Committee which conducted a Parliamentary inquiry into the largest and most complicated scandal in the oil and gas industry: the Malabu Scandal, involving alleged fraud of $1.3billion by Government officials and multinational companies. The two-year long inquiry afforded me significant insight into, and understanding of, the law and practice relating to the oil and gas industry. I was recently instructed in 2020 by an international oil company to recover multimillion dollars compensation from a state oil corporation.
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I am an aviation enthusiast. I was a leading member of the House Committee on Aviation. My Masters Degree included International Air Law. I spearheaded the establishment of the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, Nigeria, which is a foremost aviation training institute in Africa. I supervised compliance with all the ICAO regulatory requirements for an Approved Training Organisation (ATO). I was the Alternate Chairman of IAC between 2008 and 2012. I later trained to become a pilot, holding both an ICAO licence issued in Nigeria and an EASA licence issued in the United Kingdom. I am very conversant with aviation law and practice.
Bar Associations & Memberships:
Member Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
Member Technology and Construction Bar (TECBAR)