Team Lead

 

Charles Edeki,  Partner (& Lead Counsel: Shipping & Energy) .
Our highly skilled and experienced team of lawyers is led by Charles Edeki. Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1998 and with a Master of Law Degree in Corporate Management and Finance Law (with biases in Maritime Law and Marine Insurance Law), Mr. Edeki thus has a post-call experience spanning over 20 years of shipping/admiralty (including aviation) law practice and procedure involving ‘in rem’ actions for preservation of seaborne assets and other maritime recoveries resulting from liabilities incurred during sea/air carriage; oil spill pollution damage litigation; capital market transactions involving Initial/Public Offers as well as privatisation and commercialisation of statutory corporations; telecommunications contracting and procurement, making him an astute negotiator of admirable reputation.


Mr. Edeki's career has progressed through Aluko & Oyebode, Lagos Nigeria, 1997 (Law office attaché, Corporate Commercial law practice); FM. Ebofuame-Nezan & Co Makurdi Nigeria 1998(Associate, Corporate Commercial law practice); Olayinka Faji & Associates, Lagos, Nigeria 1999-2002(Associate: Maritime law practice exclusively); Ajumogobia & Okeke, Lagos Nigeria 2002-2005 (Associate: Corporate Commercial/Maritime/Oil spill); Celtel Nigeria Limited (Zain) 2005-2009, Lagos, Nigeria (HOD: Procurement, Telecommunications); and Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (Etisalat), Lagos, Nigeria 2009-April, 2010 (HOD: Contracts and Procurement, Telecommunications).

Mr Edeki is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association as well as the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. A great team player, leader and mentor, he is an ardent sports fan and plays football for leisure.

Mr. Edeki can be reached by email at charlesedeki@anchorandstern.com and by
Telephone on D/L: +234 (0) 803 325 6809 and Cell: +234:+234 (0) 802 222 2641

 

 

 

Nneka Nerissa Jibunoh, Partner, (Head of Chambers)
Mrs. Jibunoh graduated with an LLB from London Guildhall University in 2000. She moved back to Nigeria after a few years of work experience in varying fields and was called to the Nigerian bar in 2004.

Nneka has extensive work experience in customer care both in Nigeria and internationally and this explains her warm, approachable and professional mannerisms. As Head of Chambers (overseeing the firm's Business Development & Client Care, Human Resources and Para-legal, as well as Quality Assurance and Admin. teams), She brings to Anchor and Stern among other things, professionalism, a flair for corporate organization, attention to detail, and people management skills.

Career History
GFK NOP, London, England, 1999 – 2000 (Market Research Analyst); Zingo, London, England 2000 – 2002 (Customer Services Manager), Linklaters and Alliance, London, England, 2002 – 2003 (Paralegal); DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, London, England, 2004 – 2005 (Business Development & Sales Officer); Ajumogobia & Okeke, Lagos, Nigeria, 2005 – 2006 (Legal Practitioner (National Youth Service Corps)); UBA Foundation (winner of This Day Award for "Best socially responsible company of the year 2007), 2006 – 2008 (Environment Program Manager); UBA, 2008 – 2009 (Profit Center Manager (Sales & Relationship Management)); The Wedding Company Nigeria, 2010 – 2011 (Managing Director).

Mrs. Jibunoh can be reached by email on nnekajibunoh@anchorandstern.com and by
Telephone: +234(0)8099451818

 

 

 

Oke Kagho- Aduloju (Mrs.) Senior Associate (Lead Solicitor: Invmts., Mergers & Acquisitions)

Oke is a highly skilled and proficient individual with a remarkable problem-solving drive. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2004. With 12 years post Call and several years work experience across various Industries as Solicitor, Consultant, Analyst, Entrepreneur and Administrator, Oke brings to the team, a vast and qualitative insight into various Sectors of the economy.

She began her Commercial Law practice as a Solicitor at Union Trustees Limited where she gathered experience in the diverse areas of Commercial Law and Governance. She then moved on to become a Senior Review Consultant (Legal and Administrative Services) for a Business Consulting Firm, providing Advisory Services and Strategic Business support across Telecommunications, Maritime, Sustainable Development and State Economic Development Projects.

Some of the Projects she worked on include- Netcom Africa Quality Project – (Review Consultant) May 2007 - May 2008; National Maritime Administration and Safety Administration – (Business Review Consultant)June 2007 - July 2008;Delta State Integrated Development Strategy Programme –(Business Review Consultant) September 2007- January 2008; IFC - Growing Businesses Foundation Capacity Building Project – ( Business Review Consultant) February 2008 - July 2008; Chams Access Strategy Review – (Business Advisory Consultant) August 2008 – 2010.

Oke’s rich and diverse experience allows her bring to the firm, fresh and insightful perspectives for creating sustainable and tangible value for our clients. Oke Aduloju can be reached by email at okeaduloju@anchorandstern.com and by Telephone on Cell: + 234 (0) 8139339614.

 

 

Aghedo –Popoola. Itohan (Mrs) Senior Associate (Litigation)

Itohan graduated with an LLB from Lagos State University and was called to the Nigerian bar in 2004, both following a certificate in Mass Communication and Speech Writing obtained from University of Lagos in 1996.

She became a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) in 2005-2006 and is also a member of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. She possesses versatile experience, which she has leveraged on in serving our Hospitality and Sales industry clients, having served in entities involved in the promotion and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages/ products of Guinness Nigeria Limited (a Diageo group) and also Nigerian Breweries Limited.

Itohan has great customer relation and excellent interpersonal relationship skills which have helped her excel at the various roles she has filled over the years, spanning over a decade. She has progressed through Lexitoaki Company Limited (Legal Adviser and Public Relations Officer) 2001-2003, Nigerian Immigrations Services (Public Relation Office/Passport Office) 2004 - 2005 (National Youth Service) and Adewale Makanju & Co. (Barristers & Solicitors) Junior Counsel 2005 – 2007; Tantalizers Group (Front Office Supervisor) 2007-2008; Itohan enjoys swimming; and martial arts. She is an ardent follower of the culinary arts Industry.

Itohan Aghedo-Popoola can be reached by email at itohanpopoola@anchorandstern.com and by Telephone on Cell: + 234 (0) 8057065274.

 

 

Diwari Peterside, Senior Associate (Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisition)

Diwari is a highly detailed professional with good analytical and excellent research skills. Her core competence is in entertainment law with interest in company secretarial, drafting and negotiation, due diligence and merger & acquisition.

Diwari graduated from Middlesex University with a Bachelor Degree in Law, (L.L.B) in 2007 with Masters Degree from the University of Westminster (L.L.M) in 2009 with emphasis in Entertainment Law. She continued to work in the United Kingdom for a few more years before returning to Nigeria and was called to the Nigeria Bar in February 2012.

She has qualitative, formative experience in diverse aspects of the legal practice both in Nigeria and England, working as a paralegal with the Waltham Fores Council in London, UK as well as a Legal Officer for SEPLAT Petroleum, Lagos, Nigeria.

She is enjoyed working as an independent legal advisor, consulting for companies as well as individuals in Nigeria's Entertainment industry.

Diwari is a Member of the Nigeria Bar Association (N.B.A) and serves as a member of the planning committee of the N.B.A's Annual Section for Business Law (SBL) conference.

Ms Peterside can be reached by email at diwaripeterside@anchorandstern.com and by Telephone on Cell: + 234 (0) 7066245792.

 



Olivia Ikegwuonu,
Partner (& Lead Solicitor: Investments, Mergers & Acquisitions)
Olivia has an Honours Bachelor of Law Degree from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State (1993) and thereafter proceeded to the Nigerian Law School. Olivia was called to the Nigerian Bar in May 1995.

Olivia has extensive experience in (a)  the gamut of criminal and civil litigation both at the Appellate and High Courts, (b) rendered legal services to corporate bodies in all phases of operations, (c) capital market transactions including a Four Billion Naira bonds issue as Solicitors to the Trustees; (d) fast moving consumer goods as Legal Adviser thereof (e) telecommunications contracting and procurement, making her an experienced procurement professional.

Career History

Bentley Edu & Co.Barristers, Solicitors and Trade Marks Agents Dec.1994-Feb.1995 (Legal Intern); Asuquo & Asuquo Barristers & Solicitors Nov. 1995-Dec.2002 (Associate through to Partner); Food Concepts & Entertainment Limited Dec.2002-Feb.2005 (Legal Adviser) Dec.17 2003 –Feb. 29 2004 (Parallel appointment within the same company, Acting Head HR and Admin); Vee Networks Limited (Trading as Vmobile) Feb.2005 – July 2007 (Supervisor Contracts ); Celtel Nigeria Limited (Trading as Zain) Aug.2007 – February 2008 (      Manager Vendor Registration); Celtel Nigeria Limited (Trading as Zain) Feb. 2008 – May 2009 (Category Manager; Marketing & Devices); Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services
Limited (Etisalat) May 2009 – Dec 2010 (Head; Marketing, Devices & General Services (Procurement Directorate).
With almost 2 decades of broad experience within the Legal,  corporate/commercial, fast moving consumer goods (fmcg) and telecommunication sectors and further aided by the wealth of experience and knowledge garnered over the years in the various capacities, Olivia has developed extensive management experience in the specific areas.

Ms. Ikegwuonu can be reached by email at oliviaikegwuonu@anchorandstern.com
and by Telephone on Cell:+234 (0) 802222 2763 and +234 (0)8099443774

 

 

 

Akindele Olowa, Partner (Lead Solicitor: Emerging Markets & Sustainability)  

With long term outstanding and active participation identifying and developing idealistic and cutting edge enterprises, Mr. Olowa heads our emerging markets and vintage clientele or entrepreneurial and general strategic business development undertakings in diverse sectors of local and international economies. He is the Firm’s driving force and prime investment by which our long term sustainability is perpetually guaranteed and reinforced as budding and next to nothing ideas of clients are identified, nurtured and managed from just possibilities, up to stabilities, indicative only of blue chip operations and in the course of which the potential of our entire practice structure is maximised.

Mr. Olowa is a graduate of Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria and the Nigerian Law School, and derived extensive hands-on experience joining from Peachtree Solicitors, Lagos, Nigeria.

Mr. Olowa can be reached by email at akindeleolowa@anchorandstern.com and by Telephone on Cell: + 234 (0) 8155146474

 




Godfrey Etikerentse,
Consultant, Petroleum Law.

Mr. Godfrey Etikerentse has an Honours Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of London (1964) and was called to the English Bar in June of the same year as a member of the Inner Temple. He was enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in early May of 1965 and after a short period of private legal practice, began a career in the petroleum industry in April 1966 in Gulf Oil Company (Nigeria) Limited, the predecessor of Chevron Nigeria Limited. This career in the industry lasted till December 1995 when he retired; the last thirteen years of which he functioned as General Counsel of Chevron Nigeria Limited. Mr Etikerentse was the first Nigerian Executive Director appointed by Chevron-June 1988.  

He is a 1981 alumnus of the Academy of American and International Law, at the International and Comparative Law Centre, Southwestern Legal Foundation, University of Texas, Dallas. For quite a few years, he was a contributing editor of the Oxford-based Oil and Gas Law and Taxation Review. G. Etikerentse is the author of Nigerian Petroleum Law, the foremost legal publication on Oil and Gas law in Nigeria, first published in 1985 by Macmillan Publishers, UK, with a second edition in 2004 and reprinted in 2005 in Nigeria. Inspired by his hands-on experience and active involvement in the industry, the latest edition of the Nigerian Petroleum Law captures all the significant developments in the law since 1985, which include the working of the Joint Operating Agreements between NNPC and its trans-national joint venture partners, environmental issues, the law regarding mergers of oil companies, government’s indigenisation policy in the upstream sector as exemplified by its discretionary award of oil prospecting licences, marginal fields allocations and local content requirements. Also addressed therein are gas utilization incentives, as well as the impact of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the oil majors on petroleum profits taxation.  

In April 1994, G. Etikerentse was appointed by the African-American Institute, New York, as one of the international observers who monitored South Africa’s first all race general elections. He is a founding member of the prestigious Petroleum Club Lagos and now practices law in Lagos, Nigeria specialising in petroleum law and its taxation.

 


At all times and in order to facilitate expeditious mobilisation for our clients' projects, we are able to provide flexible resources at short notice within most specialized fields through our extensive network of skilled specialists.

 

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