Confirmed Speakers
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- Confirmed Speakers
Opening Ceremony
Cesar Pereira C.Arb FCIArb
Ciarb President, 2026
Cesar Pereira C.Arb FCIArb
Cesar Pereira C.Arb FCIArb serves as arbitrator, counsel, or legal expert in disputes involving government contracts, regulated industries, infrastructure, construction, energy and international contracts with experience spanning three languages, four continents and multiple arbitral institutions, national laws and applicable rules.
He is the global President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) for 2026.
Dr Chikwendu Madumere, PhD, FCIArb (UK), C.Arb
Deputy Chair and the Africa Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Ciarb
Dr Chikwendu Madumere, PhD, FCIArb (UK)
He heads the arbitration desk at the law firm Madumere & Madumere in Abuja, Nigeria. He holds a Master’s Degree with distinction in Petroleum Law and Policy from CEPMLP at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
He holds a PhD in UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
He is the Deputy Chair and the Africa Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He is a member of the ICC Arbitration Commission on Arbitration & ADR. He has significant experience in over 115 arbitration cases, both locally and internationally, involving disputes related to joint ventures, energy and Natural Resources, construction, and Infrastructure.
Oba Nsugbe KC, SAN
Keynote Speaker
Oba Nsugbe KC, SAN
Regarded as a leading practitioner in the UK and Nigeria, Oba Nsugbe KC, SAN has a broad international practice focussing on Africa related litigation and dispute resolution. He provides high-level advice and representation for individuals, corporate clients and other organisations, (including NGOs), in matters ranging from business crime and corrupt practices to contractual and corporate disputes. His ongoing international work includes advising the Swiss Government in its case against Nigeria before ITLOS, acting as joint lead Counsel for two US companies in only Nigeria’s second case at ICSID, and Counsel in a multi-jurisdictional claim for families of multiple victims of the Dana Air Crash in Lagos in 2012. He advised and appeared for the Lagos State Government in arbitral proceedings instituted against it following the collapse of Enron and the termination of various related contracts entered into by the State. Oba has also provided expert advice and evidence on issues of Nigerian law to a wide range of institutional, corporate and individual clients ranging from the Treasury Solicitors to leading City firms and business entrepreneurs.
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”. Oba was recognised as one of Africa’s top 20 arbitrators in Africa’s Arbitration Powerlist Awards, administered by the Africa Arbitration Academy.
Nwamara Inegbenoise
Nwamara Inegbenoise
Nwamara Inegbenoise is Deputy Director, Arbitration & ADR – Africa at ICC Dispute Resolution Services (ICC DRS), Paris, France.
She leads ICC DRS’s strategy, development and engagement across Africa, working with key public and private-sector stakeholders to strengthen the use of ICC dispute resolution services and deepen ICC’s presence across the continent. Her work focuses on advancing international arbitration and ADR and strengthening dispute resolution frameworks and practice across African markets.
Nwamara brings over 18 years of multidisciplinary professional experience across legal practice, corporate advisory, dispute resolution and institutional development. Before joining ICC DRS, she was Principal Consultant at NOISE & BLUE in Nigeria, where her practice focused on arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution strategy, and the development of ADR frameworks and institutions. She previously served as an ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum (ICC YAAF) Regional Representative for Africa, contributing to regional engagement and the development of young arbitration and ADR practitioners.
Nwamara is a Nigerian-qualified lawyer. She holds an LL.M from Rivers State University, Nigeria, and the CIArb Global Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration (Oxford Diploma). She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and a CEDR Accredited Mediator.
DAY 1 PANEL 1
Users' Perspective: Realities of Choosing African Countries as a Seat for Resolving Intra-African and Global Disputes
Miannaya Essien, SAN
3rd Vice Chair, Ciarb Nigeria Branch
HON. Wilfred Danola Ikatari
Chief Executive of the Regional Centre for International Arbitration
HON. WILFRED DANOLA IKATARI
HON. WILFRED DANOLA IKATARI possesses multi- disciplinary knowledge and skills in the fields of Education, Agriculture, Applied Economics, Law, Public Administration and Arbitration.
Currently the Director/Chief Executive of the Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, Lagos-Nigeria, He earlier practiced Law in the firm of Messrs EGELE and EGELE, Attorneys – at -Law and Arbitrators, Daniel Chambers (founded by Late Chief Francis Forum Egele, SAN, FCArb) with practice focused on commercial, Property, oil and gas, criminal, Banking and capital market.
The late former President, Umaru Musa Yar’adua, GCFR, appointed him Honourable Member (Judge) of the Investment and Securities Tribunal of Nigeria, where he chaired the Tribunal Panels, making remarkable judicial contributions to the Capital Market jurisprudence and the administration of the Tribunal.
He is a Fellow of the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) of Nigeria, Africa Business Club, Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development and Distinguished Fellow of the African Institute of Public Administration and is a Member, Working Group II & III, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Hon. Ikatari has featured in national and international conferences in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe as Participant, Panellist, Moderator, Speaker, Presenter and Intervener in UNCITRAL conferences since 2014 to date.
He played prominent roles in Nigeria’s national Arbitration Policy development, engagement with Singapore Convention on Mediation (United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreement resulting from Mediation (New York 2018) and legislative processes culminating in the Arbitration and Mediation Act (AMA 2023) enactment.
PROF. ‘Wale Olawoyin SAN
President, Lagos Court of Arbitration
PROF. ‘WALE OLAWOYIN SAN
PROF. ‘WALE OLAWOYIN SAN HAS PRACTICED LAW FOR OVER THREE AND A HALF DECADES AND HAS BEEN TEACHING LAW FOR ABOUT 27 YEARS IN THE FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS. HIS MAJOR AREA OF SPECIALIZATION IS COMPANY LAW, ARBITRATION AND ADMIRALTY LAW. HE ALSO HAS SPECIFIC INTEREST IN CORPORATE MANAGEMENT, SECURED CREDIT TRANSACTIONS AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES. HE IS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED RESEARCHER WITH PUBLISHED WORKS IN INTERNATIONAL SERIALS SUCH AS THE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION LAW REVIEW, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARBITRATION, MEDIATION AND DISPUTE MANAGEMENT, JOURNAL OF AFRICAN LAW, THE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BANKING AND THE JOURNAL OF MARITIME LAW AND COMMERCE, ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COMPANY LAW, CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA AND ARBITRATION. HE HAS ACTED AS ARBITRATOR IN A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ICC) AND THE PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION (PCA) AND SEVERAL AD-HOC DOMESTIC ARBITRATIONS IN NIGERIA. HE WAS ELEVATED TO THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA IN 2014 AND IS A FELLOW OF BOTH THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS (UK) AND THE INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ARBITRATORS. HE IS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAGOS COURT OF ARBITRATION.
Prof. Kenneth Wyne Mutuma
Chair, Ciarb Kenya Branch
Prof. Kenneth Wyne Mutuma
Prof. Kenneth Wyne Mutuma is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and the Managing Partner at the firm of Wyne and Associates. Prof. holds several academic qualifications, including a Doctorate and Masters in Law from the University of Cape Town as well as a law undergraduate degree from the University of Liverpool. He is also a qualified Architect having graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Nairobi.
He possesses extensive leadership experience and expertise in governance practice, ADR, and international law. His practice spans a wide range of areas, including commercial law, commercial arbitration, construction adjudication, mediation, litigation, conveyancing, corporate governance, refugee law, human rights law, and employment law.
Prof. Wyne is also a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as a Certified Professional Mediator. He is an active member and current Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya), the Law Society of Kenya, the East African Law Society, the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Lusaka International Arbitration Centre (LIAC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the Dispute Resolution Panel of Architecture Association of Kenya, the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), the Dispute Resolution Panel of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). He has a comprehensive understanding of ADR procedures having acted as arbitrator and adjudicator in a wide range of commercial and construction disputes. Prof. is the current Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Kenya) Branch.
In addition to his responsibilities within the Firm, Prof. Wyne finds fulfilment empowering upcoming students of law through his work as an academic with several universities including the University of Nairobi where he is currently a Senior Lecturer of Law teaching, inter alia, ADR, corporate governance, public international law, international relations, international human rights law, and international humanitarian law. He is also an Associate Professor at Mount Kenya University where he teaches Public Law.
Prof. has also contributed service to the wider society in various capacities, including as: the Chairperson of the National Examinations Appeals Tribunal; the National Representative to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA); as a member of the Council to the Foreign Service Academy; Member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal; the immediate former Chairperson of the Cricket Kenya Independent Election Panel.
Prof. Wyne is an avid researcher and writer and possesses accumulated experience and academic leadership in international law, ADR and corporate governance. He has published extensively and has authored several volumes on International Law, ADR and corporate governance
Hon. Justice Lemea Ngbor, F.IDRI, MCIARB
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
JUSTICE LEMEA NGBOR, FIDRI, MCIARB (UK)
Hon. Justice Lemea Ngbor, FIDRI, MCIArb (UK), is a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State, Nigeria, where she serves as the Presiding Judge of the Okrika Division, a designated ADR Judge and a member of the Governing Council of the Rivers State Multidoor Court House. She holds an LLB (Second Class Upper) from Rivers State University and a BL (Second Class Upper) from the Nigerian Law School. Justice Ngbor possesses a strong arbitration background, having practiced under Prof. Fidelis Oditah, KC, SAN, where she gained extensive experience in International and Domestic Arbitration and Commercial Dispute Resolution. She later joined Sterling Partnership Legal Practitioners (now Primera Africa Legal), leading its Dispute Resolution team for about a decade before her elevation to the bench in January 2020. In that role, she acted for multinational corporations, state parties, and domestic clients, providing both contentious and non-contentious arbitration advice and representation.
She is a Fellow of the International Dispute Resolution Institute (IDRI), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (MCIArb), and a Member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators & Conciliators (ICMC). Justice Ngbor has also has received multiple advanced trainings in Arbitration and ADR from internationally recognized institutions and domestic bodies, which she actively applies in her judicial role as an ADR Judge to promote efficient case management and administration of justice. Outside the bench, she enjoys watching football (especially the EPL) and listening to good music.
DAY 1 PANEL 2
The African Energy Sector: Managing PSC-JV-Energy Transition Disputes Through Arbitration and ADR
Dr. Chinedu Idike
General Manager, Legal, Exploration & Production, Seplat Energy Plc
Dr. Chinedu Idike
General Manager, Legal, Exploration & Production, Seplat Energy Plc.
Dr. Chinedu Idike has over 27 years experience in the legal industry covering external legal services and in-house legal work experience. He is currently the General Manager, Legal, Exploration & Production, Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas business where he provides legal support on a wide range of oil and gas business, a broad spectrum of exploration and production base of Seplat’s business for both offshore and onshore business operations and delivers general business advisory and strategic legal support to senior management. Though a lawyer, Dr. Idike has a tremendous business mindset providing business solutions in the midst of complex legal challenges.
Prior to his Seplat role, Dr. Idike was the General Counsel & Company Secretary of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), former subsidiary of ExxonMobil Nigeria, upon its acquisition by Seplat. In his 15 years of work experience with ExxonMobil, he was the company’s legal expert and go-to-person on Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) legal compliance, gas sales contracting, gas flare governance and mitigation and international treaties governance. Dr Idike led the legal aspects of the negotiation team for the groundbreaking dispute settlement of the multifaceted claims and counterclaims between the FGN/NNPC and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) contractors and for the renewal of the PSCs and leases that paved way for a new wave of deepwater operations investment in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Dr. Idike, a member of the OPTS Legal Subcommittee and its co-chair in 2024, is a strong legal voice and part of the OPTS think tank and legal support group that have been assisting the OPTS in interpreting complex provisions of the PIA, helping the regulators with legal updates on draft regulations prior to their issuance and developing the law in critical areas to provide clarity and certainty.
Dr. Idike’s academic background traverses several continents. He graduated from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, winning several academic prizes and also the Nigerian Law School where he graduated with several academic prizes including the Best Overall Performance Award (2nd Prize). In 2002, he was awarded a prestigious Canadian scholarship for a Masters in law program in Dalhousie Law School, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, which he completed in 2003, and was also awarded a Canadian scholarship for a doctoral program in law at the reputable Canadian law school, the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Toronto, Canada, where he completed his PhD in law in 2006.
Dr. Idike is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He was also called to the Bar in Ontario Canada and, while in Canada, he was a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association. Dr. Idike worked with the multinational law firm of Stikeman Elliott LLP, headquartered in Canada before returning to Nigeria in 2009 to join ExxonMobil from where he transitioned to Seplat Energy Plc upon MPN’s acquisition by Seplat.
Oladapo Ademola
Partner, Advocaat Law Practice
Oladapo Ademola
Oladapo is a Partner at Advocaat Law Practice and leads the firm’s Litigation and Dispute
Resolution Practice Group. He has over two decades of experience advising and representing
clients in complex and high-value commercial arbitration and litigation, with expertise
spanning energy and infrastructure, telecommunications media and technology, intellectual
property, maritime, and financial services sectors. He is recognised for his strategic approach
to complex disputes and commercial pragmatism.
He has also participated as a speaker and panelist at professional and industry forums, sharing
insights on dispute resolution, and related areas of his practice.
Folashade Alli, SAN, C.Arb, FCIArb
Principal Partner, Folashade Alli & Associates
FOLASHADE ALLI, SAN, C.Arb, FCIArb
Folashade Alli, SAN, C.Arb, FCIArb is a Chartered Arbitrator, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), dual-qualified Nigerian and English barrister, and CEDR-Accredited Mediator. She is the Principal Partner of Folashade Alli & Associates, Lagos.
She has extensive experience as Chair of Arbitral Tribunals, sole arbitrator and tribunal member in domestic and international disputes across the oil and gas, energy, construction, maritime, telecommunications, technology, banking and finance, real estate and commercial sectors.
She is Nigeria’s Representative on the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR and serves on the Professional Conduct Committee of CIArb, UK. She is an Approved Tutor of CIArb UK and previously served as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Branch of CIArb. She was also a member of the Federal Ministry of Justice Committee on the Review of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.
She currently serves as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice and is actively involved in legal education and professional development. She regularly speaks and moderates at leading arbitration, ADR and legal practice conferences in Nigeria and internationally.
Her professional interests include international commercial arbitration, energy and construction disputes, professional ethics, legal practice and the development of arbitration and ADR in Nigeria and across Africa.
Mark Mordi, SAN
Partner, Aluko & Oyebode
Mark Mordi, SAN
Mark is a seasoned litigation lawyer who is happy to bring the full weight of his experience and skill to bear on client briefs to bring about the best solution.
Mark is renowned for his representation of major consumer products and pharmaceutical companies in IP litigation matters, including contentious patent and trademark mandates. Industry participants describe him as a “very passionate lawyer,” with one interviewee commenting: “I rate him very highly in IP enforcement.” – Chambers Global 2021
In addition to being a core member of Aluko & Oyebode’s litigation and dispute resolution team, Mark has successfully carved a niche for himself in Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement matters, as well as negotiating out of court settlements in favour of clients in this area. In the course of his IP enforcement practice, Mark represents a number of international pharmaceutical companies in IP disputes. He has prosecuted several class actions, IP enforcement matters ranging from trademark infringements to unlawful interference with the performance of contracts cases for major multinational pharmaceutical companies and local manufacturing companies. In the course of these cases, he has also successfully obtained and enforced in every case, preemptive remedies in the nature of Anton Pillar orders, temporary restraining orders or injunctions against counterfeit producers, and parallel importers and passers-off.
Mark is involved in the preparation and arguing of processes for opposition proceedings before the Trademark Registry, civil matters including contract, tort, property, and corporate disputes, as well as criminal matters, and also renders anti-counterfeiting advice. He has represented a wide range of clients ranging from multinational corporations to private companies, partnerships and individuals. His area of specialisation includes admiralty matters, commercial litigation, arbitration and general civil litigation matters.
DAY 1 PANEL 3
Arbitrating Disputes at the Intersection of FX Controls, Capital Mobility, and Sovereign Power
Agada Elachi, SAN
Agada Elachi, SAN
Agada Elachi is a practicing lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He holds a doctorate degree in Public Policy and Administration specializing in Terrorism, Mediation and Peace (Walden, U.S.A). He also holds a Masters Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies (M.A), and a Masters degree in Law (LL.M). He is a SEC certified capital market operator and, is actively engaged in investment advising and commercial law practice. He has vast experience in litigating cases before all levels of court in Nigeria.
Agada is an ADR expert with a bias for mediation and arbitration. He holds the fellowship of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC, Nigeria), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP). He also holds a diploma in International Commercial Arbitration.
As mediator, he has been engaged in the resolution of a broad range of disputes such as banking and financial matters, inheritance and testamentary issues, labour matters, and family mediation just to mention a few.
As arbitrator, he is experienced in handling a wide range of issues including but not limited to defence contracts, power/energy contracts, construction contracts, oil and gas, environment preservation and management contracts, financial matters, transport management contracts, and real estate development matters.
He is on the panel of Panel of Neutrals of several organizations. Some of these are: Global Mediation (UK), Kigali International Arbitration Centre, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre, Nigerian Communications Commission, Federal High Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre, Abuja Multi-Door Courthouse, Kaduna Multi-door Courthouse, and several multi-door courthouses. He is a member of the Governing Council of the Edo State Multi-Door Courthouse
He is a member of the permanent court of the Geneva International Dispute Resolution Institute (GIDI).
He acts as a resource person and consults from time to time for several organizations on Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice.
Agada has keen interest in professional development and networking and as such is a member of several professional bodies including Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, African Mediation Association, and the African Arbitration Association. He has served in different capacities within and without the professional circle.
Agada loves to read and write. He is an avid lover of sports and a member of the IBB Golf and Country Club, Abuja amongst others. He is married to Rosemary, and they have four lovely children.
Aisha Ado Abdullahi
Edem Ekeng
Edem Ekeng
Foluke Akinmoladun
Foluke Akinmoladun
Foluke Akinmoladun is a Nigerian dispute resolution expert and Managing Solicitor of Trizon Law Chambers. A commercial lawyer, accountant, arbitrator, mediator and corporate governance professional, her practice covers domestic and international commercial disputes, particularly in the maritime, construction, finance and trade sectors.
She is a Fellow and Member of leading arbitration and mediation institutions and one of Nigeria’s representatives on the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. She is also a member of the Court of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration and serves on several arbitral and ADR panels. Foluke was a member of the ICC Commission Working Group on Expedited Procedure Provisions and contributed to the ICC Toolkit for Arbitrators in Expedited Procedures.
She is Honorary Secretary of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, a Supporting Member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association and Secretary of the Maritime Sector of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is a member of the Thematic group on the Blue Economy of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
A Chartered Secretary and Business Rescue and Insolvency Practitioner, she has completed the professional qualifying examinations of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers UK and has been invited to become a Member of the Institute.
Foluke serves on the Peer Review Board of the ICSID Review – Foreign Investment Law Journal and has also peer-reviewed for the Kabarak Law Review (Kenya). She was shortlisted for Global Arbitration Review’s 45 Under 45 and is a UN MIPAD (Most Influential Persons of African Decent) Honouree in the Law and Justice/Under 40 category (2020).
Etigwe Uwa, SAN
Etigwe Uwa, SAN
Senior Partner, Streamsowers & Köhn
Etigwe Uwa is a Senior Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution Department at Streamsowers & Köhn. He holds a law degree from the University of Lagos and the Nigerian Law School, a Global Master of Arts in International Relations and Finance from Tufts University and an MSc in Taxation from the University of Oxford.
With over three decades of experience, Mr. Uwa advises and represents clients across oil & gas, power, aviation, and general commercial litigation and arbitration. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2009.
His recent engagements include serving as lead counsel in litigation challenging arbitral awards arising from Production Sharing Contracts between Nigeria’s National Oil Company and various International Oil Companies, where he successfully argued that tax disputes are in arbitrable under Nigerian law. He has also acted for an International Oil Company in claims arising from a unitisation agreement relating to the joint exploitation of oil mining leases in one of Nigeria’s deep water oil fields.
Further, he successfully represented an International Oil Company in resisting additional gas flaring penalties imposed by the government, and defended affiliated EPC contractors against tax levies issued in breach of a prior advance tax ruling establishing that the taxes were not payable by the foreign companies under the relevant Double Taxation Agreements between Nigeria and their countries of incorporation.
Mr. Uwa has been involved in numerous other cross-border litigation, arbitration, and mediation matters.
DAY 1 PANEL 4
Innovation, Technology, and the Business of Arbitration
Michael Jonathan Numa SAN, FPD (UK)
Michael Jonathan Numa SAN, FPD (UK)
Fellow, Prime Dispute, UK| Managing Partner, M.J. Numa & Partners LLP |Notary Public | African Achievers Award Recipient.
Michael Jonathan Numa SAN is the Managing Partner of M.J. Numa & Partners LLP; a full-served law firm specializing in Dispute Resolution and Transaction Advisory services in Abuja, Nigeria. With over 16 years of post-qualification experience in active Dispute Resolution practice. Mr. Numa constantly represents domestic and international clients in complex commercial disputes and advisory work.
In 2022, Mr. Numa was conferred with the coveted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
Mr. Numa is a Fellow of the Prime Dispute (UK) and a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), School of International Arbitration (SIA), and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Also, he is a Notary Public of Nigeria. His active engagement with these organizations ensures that he remains at the forefront of global legal trends and developments.
A recipient of the African Achievers Award, Mr. Numa is celebrated not only for his professional achievements but also for his commitment to mentorship and community development. His goal is to inspire and guide young lawyers to embrace the changing dynamics of legal practice, emphasizing the importance of innovation, continuous learning, and professionalism.
Through his work with young lawyers in Nigeria, Mr. Numa hopes to foster a new generation of Nigerian lawyers who are equipped to navigate the globalized legal landscape. He believes in nurturing talent and promoting opportunities for young legal professionals to excel, especially in emerging fields such as arbitration, technology law, and intellectual property.
Onyekachi Umah, FCIArb
ONYEKACHI UMAH, FCIARB
Onyekachi Umah, FCIArb(UK), is an International Dispute Resolution Expert and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), with extensive experience in arbitration, mediation, and online dispute resolution (ODR), complemented by a strong academic and teaching background in arbitration anddispute resolution. He has served in multiple capacities, including Party-Appointed Arbitrator, Counsel, and Tribunal Secretary/Registrar, in numerous arbitral proceedings, mediations, and expert determinations.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and teaches arbitration and ADR at the Faculty of Law, Nasarawa State University and the SabiLaw Academy, where he trains lawyers, in-house counsel, and aspiring arbitrators on both the theory and practice of dispute resolution. His teaching and mentoring work focuses on arbitration procedure, award writing, enforcement of awards, sector-specific disputes, and the commercial realities of complex contracts.
Onyekachi is the Founding Partner at SabiLaw Firm, a leading technology and commercial law firm. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SabiLaw, Africa’s leading legal services, information and technology ecosystem, specialising in Law, ADR, Tech, Energy, Training, and Real Estate. He has authored over 800 legal publications and has trained thousands of lawyers, students, businesses, and public institutions on emerging legal and regulatory issues.
Onyekachi holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Commercial Arbitration and is a doctoral researcher focusing on the enforcement of commercial arbitral awards. His academic formation is complemented by specialist training in contract law, negotiation, and conflict management, obtained through programmes at Harvard University, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Geneva, and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington, DC. This blend of academic depth and applied training informs his pragmatic, commercially grounded approach to dispute resolution.
In practice, Mr. Umah has acted as Counsel, Tribunal Secretary, Co-Arbitrator, and Expert Determination Counsel in a wide range of local and international disputes, many involving public sector entities, cross-border projects, and capital-intensive industries. His experience spans international trade, infrastructure, construction, energy and power, engineering, transport and logistics, finance, real estate, and technology, often involving complex contractual frameworks and high-value claims. His continuing work in arbitration and ADR reflects a particular interest in how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital dispute resolution platforms, can improve the efficiency, accessibility, integrity and competitiveness of arbitration in Nigeria and internationally.
DAY 1 PANEL 5
Building Africa, Resolving Risk Arbitration and ADR in Infrastructure and Construction Disputes
Ngo-Martins Okonmah
Prof. Andrew Chukwuemerie, SAN FCIArb
Prof. Andrew Chukwuemerie, SAN FCIArb
Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FICIArb is a Professor of Commercial Law. He obtained his LL.B (Hons) from the University of Maiduguri in 1988, his BL form the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and his LL.M from the University of Lagos in 1995.
He was employed as Lecturer 1 by the Abia State University in 1998, moved to the then Rivers State University as a Senior Lecturer in 2003 and to the Ebonyi State University in 2005 as a Professor. He came back to Rivers State University in 20217.
He took silk in the 2009 set that was sworn in in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Arbitrators, London; Fellow of the Institute of Construction Industry Arbitrators, Nigeria and belongs to such other Arbitration bodies as the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADRs (where he is a National Delegate to the global Commission on Arbitration and ADR), International Council for International Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lagos and is an Arbitrator & Mediator, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Switzerland. He is member of Advocates International and Society for Corporate Governance, Nigeria.
He is the author of 5 (five) law texts namely, Circumstantial Evidence in Nigerian Law; Studies and Materials in International Commercial Arbitration; Law and Practice of Affidavit Evidence; Growing the Law, Nurturing Justice: Essays in Honour of Niki Tobi, JSC and New Dimensions in Commercial and Oil & Gas Laws. He is also the author of 16 chapters in other books, some 61 journal articles many in top rate journals across the continents and about 58 Seminar and Conference papers delivered also across the continents.
He has taught the Law of Contract, Oil and Gas Law, Company Law, Arbitration and ADRs, Banking and Insurance Law and Commercial Law, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His areas of specialty and interest are in private legal practice are Commercial Law especially International Commercial Arbitration and the ADRs, Company Law and Corporate matters, Maritime, Transnational Economic and Monetary Law, Commercial Litigation and interests in Oil and Gas Law and Evidence. He is the Research Director, Centre for Arbitration Studies, Port Harcourt since 2000 and has functioned as Chief Examiner, Arbitration and ADRs in the post graduate programmes of the three Universities since 1998.
As an Arbitrator, Mediator, Negotiator Etc Prof Chukwuemerie has done some considerable work. Appointed Chairman/Presiding Arbitrator, Member of Arbitral Tribunals and as Sole Arbitrator in simple as well as complex Oil and Gas Arbitrations, Maritime and related issues, telecommunications, construction, hospitality and tourism. Commercial and Investment Arbitration is his area of great interest and work. He is also working as trainer in Arbitration issues and matters from the Centre for Arbitration Studies.
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Prof Chukwuemerie, SAN combines teaching theory and practical the law – the law mangled by circumstances and events of life; the law in the books and the law on the streets, all for the benefit of the students. He has been involved in innumerable number of litigious matters since 1989. He has handled top level complex commercial law matters and electoral disputes in all the tiers of Nigerian Courts. He has also rendered Secretarial services to Companies and Corporations and rendered general advisory roles to such Companies and Corporations.
He can be reached through +234 (0) 802 223 7959; (0) 814 342 0546; infoph@okibelawhouse.com; okibelaw@yahoo.com and on website: www.okibelawhouse.com. His SSRN Author Page: http://ssrn.com/author=346836. His motivation is optimum aut nihil – either the best or nothing.
Sen. Dr. (Arch) Sylvia M. Kasanga h.c, FCIArb
Sylvia Kasanga
Director, Sycum Solutions Co Ltd,Nairobi, kenya
Sen. Dr. Arch. Sylvia Mueni Kasanga h.c., a distinguished architect and arbitrator, has significantly contributed to Kenya’s architectural and legal landscapes. With an ongoing LLM in International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London, she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and a member of the ICC Court of Arbitration. Her extensive career spans over two decades, marked by her leadership as Managing Director of Sycum Solutions and her pivotal role in numerous high-profile construction projects. As a former Senator, she championed key legislative initiatives, including the Mental Health (Amendment) Act of 2020 and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Bill of 2019. Sylvia’s dedication extends beyond her professional achievements; she actively mentors young arbitrators and engages in societal impact initiatives, such as the 10 million trees initiative to green semi arid lands in Kenya. Her expertise and passion for sustainable development and dispute resolution continue to shape Africa’s architectural and arbitration sectors.
Fidelis Adewole, FCIArb
Fidelis Adewole, FCIArb
Fidelis Adewole, FCIArb, is the Managing Partner of G Elias, one of Nigeria’s leading business law firms. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma where he graduated top of his class. He won two awards at the Nigerian Law School: Prince Bola Ajibola’s prize for being the most proficient student in Civil Procedure Paper; and Dr. Mudiaga Odje’s prize for being the most proficient student in Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure Papers.
With more than two decades of legal practice, he has established an outstanding reputation as a trusted adviser to prominent Nigerian and multinational organisations on major, sophisticated and strategically significant transactions. His expertise spans corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, projects, insolvency, dispute resolution, restructuring and taxation.
Fidelis’s professional excellence is widely acknowledged by leading international legal directories. Chambers Global recognises him for representing clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, divestments and corporate restructurings, and records market praise describing him as a “brilliant lawyer” who consistently demonstrates expertise in managing complex legal matters and delivers sound advice and effective legal solutions. The Legal 500 recognises him as a Leading Partner in both Commercial, Corporate and M&A and Dispute Resolution, while IFLR1000 ranks him as a Notable Practitioner in M&A, Private Equity and Project Development.
Fidelis is a Notary Public, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.
Mitchell Aghatise
Mitchell Aghatise
Mitchell is a Managing Counsel and Team Lead in Olaniwun Ajayi LP’s Government Business Practice and co-lead of the Firm’s Arbitration team. His practice combines high-stakes domestic and international arbitration with complex financial and commercial advisory, positioning him as a versatile lawyer who bridges dispute resolution with strategic transactional support across diverse sectors. He has acted in complex arbitrations under the LCIA, UNCITRAL, and ad hoc rules across energy, aviation, and infrastructure. His investment arbitration experience includes advising on Netherlands–Nigeria BIT disputes involving expropriation, fair and equitable treatment, and significant environmental damage awards. He has also represented clients in a US$20 million LCIA arbitration and in an ad hoc arbitration under the European Development Fund (1990). In commercial arbitration, Mitchell has acted in high-value disputes in the energy sector, advised on Natural Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement arbitrations concerning take-or-pay obligations, and led aviation-related mandates involving the setting aside of a fraudulent arbitral award and resisting enforcement against aircraft assets. Mitchell has extensive experience in complex financial and commercial matters. He has led negotiations for debt restructuring exceeding US$400 million owed to multiple lenders, coordinated multi-jurisdictional legal strategies in high-stakes disputes, and supervised foreign counsel in enforcement resistance proceedings. He also regularly advises on cross-border debt exposures and the structuring of intricate financial transactions. His practice demonstrates a strong track record in dispute resolution, debt restructuring, and the design of effective legal and commercial solutions for sophisticated financial arrangements.
DAY 2 PANEL 6
What Users Want: Rethinking Arbitration from the Perspective of Investors and In-House Counsel
Laura Alakija, FCIArb
LAURA ALAKIJA, FCIArb
Laura Alakija has established herself as a respected arbitration practitioner and one of Africa’s rising voices. A Founding Partner at Detail Dispute Lawyers, she regularly acts as arbitrator and counsel in domestic and international proceedings conducted under the LCIA, ICC, ICSID Additional Facility, RCICAL, LCA, and Nigerian arbitration frameworks – tackling high-stakes disputes across energy, construction, hospitality and tech.
Her work has been recognised by Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal), which has ranked her as a Recommended Arbitration Lawyer (Nigeria) and Arbitration Future Leader. She was also named among Africa’s 30 Most Promising Arbitrators by the Africa Arbitration Academy, among other professional recognitions.
Beyond her casework, Laura has made significant contributions to arbitration thought leadership and the development of dispute resolution practice in Africa. She contributed to the Africa Arbitration Academy Protocols on Climate Change and Carbon Market Disputes (2026), the AAA Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (2022), and the AAA Protocol on Virtual Hearings in Africa (2020). She is also a regular speaker at international conferences and professional training programmes, with a particular focus on investment governance, ISDS, and the development of effective dispute resolution mechanisms across the continent.
In practice, Laura is known for precision over flourish: sharp case management, unwavering procedural fairness, and decisions built on rigorous, well-reasoned analysis of the law, the evidence, and the parties’ arguments.
Olapeju Adenuga
Olapeju Adenuga
Olapeju Adenuga is Regional Legal Manager and Compliance Counsel for Southern Europe
and Africa at TechnipFMC. She advises on commercial, compliance, governance, litigation,
and arbitration matters across Europe and Africa. With extensive experience in the energy
sector, she supports business leaders in managing legal risk and resolving complex cross-
border disputes. Olapeju brings an in-house perspective to international arbitration and
alternative dispute resolution, focusing on commercially practical outcomes, preserving
business relationships, and supporting investment in emerging markets.
David Edet
Jesuyemisi Odeyemi
JESUYEMISI ODEYEMI, LL.B, B.L, MIoD, ACIS, ACIArb Group Company Secretary & Group Head, Legal Services, SIFAX Group
Jesuyemisi Odeyemi is a General counsel, corporate governance professional, and business leader with more than two decades experience advising boards, managing legal and regulatory risk, and supporting business growth across diversified sectors. As Group Company Secretary and Group Head, Legal Services at SIFAX Group, one of Nigeria’s foremost conglomerates, she provides strategic legal leadership across a portfolio spanning maritime, aviation, energy, finance, logistics, hospitality, infrastructure, and allied sectors.
In her role, Jesuyemisi leads the Group’s legal function, advising boards and executive management on high-value transactions, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, corporate restructuring, governance matters, and business expansion initiatives. She has played a pivotal role in several landmark commercial and infrastructure transactions, including deep offshore energy concessions, seaport concession renewals, electricity distribution acquisitions, power sector investments, large-scale financing arrangements, and strategic investments in emerging sectors. Her expertise lies in aligning legal strategy with business objectives, enabling organizations to manage risk while creating sustainable value. A dispute resolution professional with significant exposure to arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, she has advised on complex commercial disputes arising from contractual, corporate, infrastructure, and investment transactions, working closely with external counsel, arbitrators, and stakeholders to develop effective dispute management and resolution strategies.
She also provides oversight and strategic legal leadership across more than fifteen subsidiaries while serving as principal adviser to multiple boards, and several joint venture entities. As Company Secretary, she coordinates the affairs of more than six boards of directors including a publicly quoted company, advising on governance effectiveness, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk management, corporate restructuring, major transactions, stakeholder relations, and strategic expansion initiatives.
Her professional journey also includes leadership positions in banking and real estate. This multidisciplinary background enables her to bring a unique perspective to conversations on leadership, governance, organizational performance, business transformation, and sustainable growth.
A member of the Nigerian Bar since 2005, Jesuyemisi is a Member of the Institute of Directors, an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Ngozi Efobi
NGOZI EFOBI
Ngozi was rated as a rising star in Project finance by the International Financial Law Review (IFLR1000) for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and as a thought leader in Project Finance 2021, 2022 and 2023.
With over 16 years of distinguished legal practice at the highest levels of private practice and in-house leadership, Ngozi Efobi stands as one of West Africa’s foremost legal minds in disputes, finance, energy and infrastructure development. As General Counsel of Greenville LNG Co. Ltd., she is spearheading the legal framework for domestic LNG distribution, modular liquefaction plants, and virtual pipeline networks that are transforming energy access across the region.
Until mid-2023 Ngozi was a Disputes, Transportation and Project Finance Partner in the Law Firm AELEX, a full service commercial and litigation firm with offices across West Africa. She was a valued member of the partnership with broad years of experience in Dispute Resolution (Litigation and Commercial Arbitration) as well as significant involvement in Corporate Commercial (Project Finance, Company Secretarial and Regulatory Compliance) practice areas. She regularly advises local and international clients on landmark energy deals and arbitrations including representing clients in high-stakes disputes before the LCIA, other tribunals, and at all Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria.
In her in-house role, Ngozi maintains the Company’s legal framework for West Africa’s pioneer integrated virtual pipeline network, connecting all states across Nigeria and expanding into neighbouring countries. She is leading a landmark effort for an over $500M Energy Infrastructure multi-source financing package blending DFI, commercial debt, and equity investments. She has created novel security structures addressing currency fluctuation risks in emerging markets and designed revolutionary gas supply agreements enabling industries to transition from traditional fossil fuels to LNG at 30% cost savings. She negotiates and drafts risk-mitigated offtake contracts that are becoming the industry standard for small-scale LNG projects and developed innovative EPC frameworks combining international tech providers with local contractors.
MOCK ARBITRATION