Nigerian Law

Pump Court’s focus on Nigerian Law is unparalleled in the UK and we are regularly called upon to provide expert advice on this specialist area to leading law firms that do not have this capability.

Our Nigerian Law team is led by Pump Court’s Head of Chambers, Oba Nsugbe KC, SAN, and advises on arbitration, commercial contract disputes, business and financial crime, and large inheritance and family disputes. The set provides general advisory and advocacy services in Nigerian law as well as a specialist expert witness services in contested cases for businesses and individuals with interests in Nigeria, including Lafarge Cement, Global Steel, the Protea Hotel Group, Maritime Asset Security Ltd, and Phillip Morris International.

Oba has given expert evidence on Nigerian law in the High Court, Crown Court and County Courts of England and Wales.

Notable cases include:

• The second-ever International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) case that Nigeria has faced.
• The Shell Bodo oil spill pollution litigation, which settled for damages of £55m, the largest-ever pay out for environmental damage to any community in Africa.
• The claim for record damages for victims of the Dana Airways crash in a case of being brought in the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
• A landmark challenge to Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act.
• Howard v Shirlstar [1990] 1 WLR 1992.

For many years, Oba chaired the British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF) and was legal advisor to the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK). He continues to advise the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom. In addition, he is a former member of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (on the appointment of the President), a Senior Fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) and a member of the Body of Benchers, Nigeria.

Oba also provides training to judges and advocates in Nigeria as well as lecturing extensively around the country.