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Oba Nsugbe QC
Oba is widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s and Nigeria’s leading barristers. He has a broad international practice with a particular interest in Africa. He provides high-level advice and representation for corporate clients and other organisations (including NGOs) in matters ranging from business and general crime to corrupt practices, commercial litigation, contractual disputes and health and safety.
He is qualified in both the UK and Nigeria and is highly experienced in the courts of both countries. He advises both the Nigerian Federal Government, several State Governments and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as well as having appeared as an expert witness in several UK cases involving Nigerian law. In addition, he routinely works in other overseas jurisdictions such as Germany, the Cayman Islands, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. He is frequently involved in multi-jurisdictional cases.
Oba is able to provide expert regulatory guidance to businesses needing to comply with the legal framework in Nigeria. Furthermore, through a close network of established and highly specialist partner firms, he is able to cover other African jurisdictions as well. He is regularly called upon to advise on the drafting of contracts and commercial agreements, as well handling contentious contractual issues and other litigation, for some of the world’s largest companies in the oil and gas, leisure, banking, financial and publishing sectors. In the Cayman Islands his cases typically involve offshore trusts or insolvency, often with criminal recovery aspects. In addition, he has considerable alternative dispute resolution experience as both an Arbitrator and Counsel instructed in international arbitrations.
Called to the Bar in 1985, when Oba took silk in 2002 aged only 39,he was described in a leading law commentary as “a rising star of the Bar of England and Wales”. He commands considerable respect from both clients and peers. Numerous entries in Chambers and Partners over the years have described him as “a first-class advocate” as well as “a true gentleman who deserves his fabulous reputation”, adding that he has a “fine forensic mind” and is admired for his “technical excellence”. Contributors to the directory have also remarked that he is “fabulously personable, easy-going, and adored by judges and juries”, “works extremely well in a team” and “impresses interviewees with his calm and genial manner”.
Current and Recent Cases:
Acting for Personal Assistant to former Nigerian Governor charged with money laundering in substantial case before UK courts
Acting as arbitrator in large contractual dispute involving multinational contracted to store and distribute petroleum in Tanzania and Zanzibar
Advising UK solicitors on Nigerian law of damages in major oil spill claim involving UK based multinational
Advising UK solicitors representing media company alleged to have slandered well known Nigerian individual in a radio programme aired in UK
Advising UK company on contractual dispute involving supply of security equipment to African country
Advising UK based professional on applicability of Bribery Act 2010 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to actions of large multinational utility company with business in Nigeria
Advising a large multinational investment bank on validity of pension funds managed by it
under Nigerian Law
Advising a multinational tobacco company on large scale litigation in Nigeria with numerous parties and claimants
Acting for Lagos State in large scale arbitration involving Enron
Acting for Norwegian based insurers and marine geophysical company in arbitration involving collision between vessel and offshore platform in Nigerian coastal waters
Advising another medium sized tobacco company on validity of agreements under Nigerian Law entered into with Nigerian company for production and storage of tobacco
Acting as arbitrator in substantial arbitration involving a multinational oil company and its Nigerian oil services party where breaches of contracts and bailment alleged
Advising multinational bank seeking to establish card services in Nigeria on compliance with applicable regulatory and banking regulations
Advising large Nigerian construction company over contractual dispute with local company constructing a hotel in Lagos
Advising local Nigerian company on complex construction dispute with developer re: Lekki Expressway construction
Acting for UK pilot suing Virgin Nigeria for breach of contract in the Lagos High Court
Acting as expert witness on Nigerian Law for the largest African Hotel Group in arbitral dispute with leading Nigerian company in which a multi million dollar claim for damages made for alleged breaches of agency and marketing agreements in establishment of 5 star hotel in Nigeria.
Reported Cases:
R v P Ltd and Another [Times Law Report 13th August 2007]
Leading case on mens rea of officer of a body corporate under s.37 HSWA 1974
R v Davies (David Janway) [2002] EWCA 2949 at 586
Leading case on reverse burden in health and safety cases and impact of Human Rights Act
R v Howe & Son (Engineering) Ltd [1999] 2 ALL ER 249
Leading case on sentencing in health and safety cases
R v Hampshire [1995] 2 ALL ER 1019
Competency of child’s evidence in sexual cases
R v. Rachel [CA] 1993 Cr App R. (S) 265
Sentencing in Manslaughter cases
Howard v Shirlstar Container Transport Ltd [1990] 1 WLR 1992
Contract involving illegal performance – effect
Krumpa & Anor v. DPP [1989] Crim LR 295
S39 Public Order Act 1986
Memberships and appointments:
1999: Appointed Crown Court Recorder
2002: Appointed Queen’s Counsel
2004/8: Chair of the British Nigeria Law Forum
2004: Gray’s Inn Advocacy Trainer – Grade A
2005: Elected Bencher of Gray’s Inn
2007: Head, Pump Court Chambers
2006: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
2006/10: Legal Advisor to Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK)
2007: Legal Assessor for the General Medical Council
2010: Visiting Professor of Law, City University
2011: Trustee of the Africa Centre
Overseas appointments:
2005: Appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria
2005: Member of the Body of Benchers, Nigeria
2006: Chair of g50 business group (Investing in Nigeria)
2007: Fellow Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI)