Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN

Senior Partner and Head of the Arbitration & ADR practice group

Phone: +2349121397097

Dr. Agbakoba is the Senior Partner and Head of the Arbitration and ADR practice group in Olisa Agbakoba Legal. 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 Queen’s Counsel).

Dr. Agbakoba is one of Nigeria’s leading experts in Arbitration and has presided over several complex arbitration.He is the brain behind the first Law Firm Annexed Arbitration/ Mediation Centre in Lagos (Nigeria), the Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) Arbitration & Mediation Centre. He has showcased his brilliance as a Counsel and an Arbitrator in major National and Cross border disputes relating to Aviation (Airport Terminal Concessions) Vessel Charter, Maritime Collision, Oil wells and Rigs, Telecommunications, Housing Development and Construction respectively.

He 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 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.

Dr. Agbakoba was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (2006-2008) and in 1987 founded the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) of which he was the president from 1987 to 1995. He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Instituteof Chartered Arbitrators and the Vice President of the Institute.He is also theLegal 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.

Dr. Agbakoba is an expert and pioneer in the field of Space Law and Regulation in Nigeria. 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

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution & ADR
Maritime Law
Public Interest Law
International Trade & Investment
Public Sector Policy
Debt Recovery, and Insolvency
Human Rights.

Areas of Specialization

Professional Memberships/Affiliations

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 Experiences

Senior Partner – Olisa Agbakoba Legal

Education

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

Publications

The Legal Basis Of The Organization Of African Unity Force In The Chad: – Journal Of International Law Nigerian Institute Of International Affairs – 1981
Journal Of Human Rights Law And Practice: Nigeria’s State Security (Detention Of Persons) Decree No. 2 Of 1984; Exposing The Myth Of Judicial Impotence, With Tunde Fagbohunlu – (1991) Volume 1, No. 1 – May 1991
Incursions Into The Legal Profession; The Way Out – Speech Given At The Conference On The Reform Of Civil Adjudication, Lagos, December 1995
The Statute Of Limitations In Admiralty Proceedings
A Case For Fresh Initiatives In Maritime Laws · Reforms In Marine Insurance Law · Debt Recoveries; New Techniques For The Banks
The Order 10 Procedure And Other Related Techniques For Summary Disposal Of Cases.
Some Methods Of Human Rights Monitoring Published In Commonwealth Africa, Harare 1991
Some Operational Strategies Of A Human Rights Ngo At The National Level
Role Of Non-governmental Organizations In The Development And Protection Of Human Rights
The Role Of Lawyers In The Observance Of Human Rights
Political And Legal Constraints Of Human Rights Non-governmental Organizations.
Problems Of Credit And Security Administration In Nigeria, With Tunde Fagbohunlu
Bankruptcy And Winding-up Proceedings: Potential Mechanisms For Speedier Debt Recoveries, With Tunde Fagbohunlu
Debt Recoveries And The Judicial System · Repossessory Rights In The Equipment Lease – New Vistas For The Aggrieved Lessor, With Stephen Onyejose
Legal Opinion On Consumer Protection, With Ifeanyi Eme
A Proposal For The Establishment Of Commercial Courts In Nigeria, With Tunde Fagbohunlu
The Problems Of Broadcast, Consent & Transmission Under The New Regime Of Private Broadcasting
Some Problematic Aspects Of Nigerian Shipping Laws And Practice: Need For A Developmental Approach

Seminars & Facilitations

Dr Olisa has facilitated or spoken at so many seminar events on diverse topics like:

OAU – To Be Or Not To Be
An Assessment Of Nigeria’s Intelligence System
The Courts On Trial
Enhancing And Enforcing Performing Rights As Copyright
A Call For The Establishment Of The Nigerian Maritime Institute Of Studies
Contributor, Status Of Human Right Ngo’s In Africa
A New Maritime Policy For Nigeria
Rule Of Law – Journal Of The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Volume 8 No 2 – February 1997
Advancing Human Rights In The Fourth Repbublic: Prospects And Challenges
Draft Consultation Paper For The Making Of A Cabotage Law, Presented By Olisa Agbakoba & Associates
The Making Of Cabotage Laws For The Nigerian Maritime Sector
Revamping The Legal And Regulatory Framework For The Regulation And Privatization In Nigeria – Implication For Nigerian Transport Sector.
Legal And Regulatory Framework For Concessioning In Port
The Nigerian Legal Framework Versus The Internationally Recognized Limitations
Model Civil Procedure Rules For Nigeria – Olisa Agbakoba & Emeka Asuzu
Model Constitution For Nigeria – Olisa Agbakoba & Willy Mamah
Revised Model Constitution – Olisa Agbakoba & Emeka Asuzu
Model Electoral Law For Nigeria – Olisa & Willy Mamah
Revised Model Electoral Law – Olisa Agbakoba & Emeka Asuzu
Governance Score Card 2001 – Olisa Agbakoba & Emeka Asuzu
Advancing Human Rights In The Fourth Republic (Prospects & Challenges) – Olisa Agbakoba
Legislative Agenda For Good Governance In Nigeria – Olisa Agbakoba
Test Of Progressive Realization Of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights In Nigeria: Budget Analysis – Olisa Agbakoba & Uche Emelonye