Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN

Dr. Agbakoba is the Senior Partner and Head of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Arbitration practice group at Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL). He is, an expert in Maritime and Blue Economy Law, Space Law, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Law, Environmental Justice Law, Human Rights Law among many others.

As a leading Arbitrator, he has presided over several complex arbitration and has championed legal reforms in arbitration in Nigeria including the establishment of industry specific arbitration centres in maritime, construction, energy, telecommunications and entertainment sectors. He conceived and set up the Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) Arbitration & Mediation Centre in Lagos. He also played a major role in the establishment of the Lagos Court of Arbitration and reforms of the Lagos State Arbitration Rules. He designed the ADR Mechanism and Rules for the Asset Management and Recovery for Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). In recognition of his contribution to the growth of Arbitration in Nigeria, Dr Agbakoba was appointed as the Chair of the National Arbitration Policy Committee set of by the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2020 to advise the government on strategic policies to enhance Nigeria’s arbitration landscape.

In the field of Space Law and Regulations in Nigeria,  Dr. Agbakoba is an expert and pioneer. He has a long history of working with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the National Assembly, policymakers, and, in particular, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to help strengthen the legal, institutional, and regulatory framework that governs Space activities in Nigeria. As a space lawyer, Dr. Agbakoba has developed a legal framework for space administration in light of growing private sector interest in space and to attract investment. His work has had a significant impact on the way Nigeria treats space activities and regulations and has worked together with NASRDA in the enactment of Regulation on Licensing and Supervision of Space Activities, 2015 (Vol.108, No.106, of 28th September 2021. This includes reviewing and analyzing the current space policy.

Dr. Agbakoba is a seasoned litigator and highly successful in the resolution of complex commercial litigation matters. 

He is the founding president of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, which has led and advanced the interests of the Nigerian shipping industry. Additionally, he is a fellow of the institute of shipping & freight management and a member of both the Nigerian maritime lawyers association and the Nigerian maritime law society. Dr. Agbakoba played a pivotal role in the National committee on the review of Nigerian maritime laws and the committee for the formulation of the National Ocean Policy Act, where he served as a member. He also held the position of Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Commission on the maritime sector.

Dr. Agbakoba founded the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) of which he was the president from 1987 to 1995 and was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2006-2008. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Arbitrators and the Vice President of the Institute. He is also the Legal Adviser to the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) and a life member of the Body of Benchers. He is a member of the African Arbitration Association (AfAA) and also a member of its Advocacy Committee working to increase the visibility of African Arbitrators. He is a member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and listed as an Arbitrator at the Lagos Court of Arbitration. He is at present working with the Nigerian Economic Summit group for the creation of a Center for Sport Arbitration in Nigeria.

He is an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (equivalent of King’s Counsel).

Professional Memberships:

• National Committee On The Review Of Laws Relating Financial Services Industry
• Business Recovery & Insolvency Practitioners Association Of Nigeria
• Nigeria Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• African Arbitrators Network
• Nigerian Society Of International Law
• Council Of Continuing Legal Education
• Presidential Committee On Electoral Reform
• Governing Council Of The Nigerian Institute Of Advanced Legal Studies
• Presidential Commission On Maritime Sector Reform
• International Airline Passengers Association
• Governing Council; Nigerian-Netherlands Chamber Of Commerce
• Nigerian Maritime Lawyers Association
• Nigerian Maritime Law Society,
• Body Of Benchers, Board Of Trustees,
• International Center For The Protection Of Cultural Diversity And Human Rights In Africa
• Human Rights Institute
• Institute Of Shipping & Freight Management
• Association Of British Council Fellows
• Negotiation & Conflict Management Group

Professional Affiliations:

• Senior Advocate Of Nigeria (San)
• Doctor Of Laws (Lld), University Of Nigeria, Nsukka
• Doctor Of Philosophy Degree In Leadership, Social, And Community Development
• Fellow Chartered Institute Of Arbitrators (Fciarb)
• Fellow, Chartered Institute Of Mediators
• Fellow, Institute Of Credit Administration
• Life Member, Body Of Bencher
• Member, National Judicial Commission (Njc)
• Institute Of Humanitarian And Human Rights Law, Nigeria
• International Press Centre
• Nigerian Economic Summit Group
• Negotiation & Conflict Management Group.

• LLM. University of London (L.S.E),
• BL. – Bachelor Of Law
• LLB (Hons), – (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)