Experience

• 

  Fina Trust Microfinance Bank

  • Lagos, Nigeria

  • Head Legal Services and Company Secretary

    • Jan 2019 - Present
    • Lagos, Nigeria

    • Drafting and reviewing all loan documentation of the Bank. The documentations' include but not limited to; lease agreements, employment contracts, deed of legal and equitable mortgage, deed of tripartite legal mortgage, deed of chattel mortgage, deed of tripartite chattel mortgage, offer letter, power of Attorney, all asset debenture agreement, asset financing, joint venture agreements, collaboration agreements, auto-loan agreements. • Advise the Bank on non-financial and financial risk on all Bank transactions and advise on risk mitigation, especially if there are inherent and unavoidable risks. • Drafting and reviewing agreements for or on behalf of the Bank, including retainer ship agreements, service level agreements, purchase agreements, employment contracts, non-disclosure agreements, partnership agreements, and technical services agreements. • Engaged in due diligence transactions for a proposed acquisition (on the seller's side), ensured minimal red flags and detailed "in-house keeping". • Engaging with government agencies and parastatals; engaging CBN in obtaining a letter of no objection to pursue transactions, filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, registration of business at the NIPC, obtaining expatriate quota, and obtaining STR and CERPAC cards for expatriates. • Safeguarding the recovery department by taking legal means and steps to recover loans from defaulting customers, which invariably reduces litigation costs. • Ensuring compliance with corporate governance as stipulated in the corporate governance code for Microfinance Banks.• Ensuring the commission of all Board Committee is in line with the corporate governance code and drafting of all Board and Committee corporate governance code. • Ensuring continuous and strict compliance with good corporate governance policies as instructed by regulators.

• 

  Onward Paper Mill Limited

  • Lagos, Nigeria

  • Legal Adviser & Company Secretary

    • Dec 2017 - Dec 2018
    • Lagos, Nigeria

    • Reviewed legal documentation such as employment contracts, purchase agreements, distribution agreements, sales agreements, and service level agreements. • Performed Company secretarial duties such as taking minutes of meeting at Board meetings, maintaining statutory books, responding adequately to company correspondence and ensuring compliance with business units, industry practice, legislation and regulations.• Executed legal documentation and contracts, which included the resurgence of the Onward Paper Mill Limited Factory.• Reviewed legal documentation such as employment contracts, purchase agreements, sales agreements, and service level agreements. • Participated in product and business meetings and advised the Chief Executive Officer, Management Team, and the board.• Worked hand in hand with the human resource department to review employment contracts and resolve disputes among factory workers.

• 

  Negris Limited

  • Ikeja, Nigeria

  • Senior Legal Adviser & Community Relations Officer

    • Apr 2014 - Nov 2017
    • Ikeja, Nigeria

    • Performed all company secretarial and regulatory compliance duties for the holding company and 6 of its subsidiaries engaged in different sectors of the economy such as power, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and properties.• Executed transactions which included the rehabilitation and functioning of Oku-Iboku pulp and paper mill (the only newsprint mill in West Africa) and rehabilitation of 10 megawatts plant to 140 megawatts plant to be transmitted to the national grid.• Drafted and negotiated joint venture agreements, investment agreements and share acquisition agreements with investors to rehabilitate oku-iboku pulp and paper.• Engaged in due- diligence transactions (on the side seller) to assist in disposing of assets and encourage potential investors.• Served as liaison with regulatory bodies such as Corporate Affairs Commission, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and others.• Researched and analysed the law on complex issues and wrote briefs with external solicitors in litigation cases.• Drafted and reviewed agreements for the Company, including Sales agreement/ Purchase agreement, distributorship agreement, Lease/Tenancy Agreement, Joint venture agreement, and Partnership agreement.• Advised businesses on the impact, interpretation and implementation of new policies and legislation.• Monitored changes in the business legislative and regulatory environment and provided legal advisory to colleagues and senior managers on varying issues.

• 

  Banwo & Ighodalo

  • Lagos, Nigeria

  • Associate

    • Jan 2013 - Mar 2014
    • Lagos, Nigeria

    • Proffered legal advisory to multinationals regarding doing business in Nigeria across several industries like FMCG, Maritime, Finance, Logistics and others.• Researched policies such as basic research and knowledge on CBN regulations, Basel 2 and other anti-money laundering policies.• Worked on an acquisition transaction in the banking industry. Engaged in the pre- due- diligence exercise, due- diligence and negotiations during the drafting and finalising of agreements. • Negotiated with other third parties on contractual issues and legal disputes, including settlement and agreements.• Anticipated and mitigated potential legal problems and developed strategies to avoid costly litigation and reduce potential risk areas.