F. CHIJIOKE OKOLI, SAN; LL.B; LL.M; M.Sc. Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. Principal & Managing Partner and Lead Litigator. Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association-Lagos Branch, 200911. Chijioke Okoli is a specialist in commercial litigation, including white collar crime matters in the commercial /corporate environment. He has the privilege of having argued at the Supreme Court of Nigeria some of the most significant recent reported cases on these practice areas, including Federal Republic of Nigeria v Senator 0.J. Adewunmi [2007] 10 NWLR (Pt.1042) 399. His recent engagements of note include acting as Lead Counsel for one of the tobacco companies sued in the High Courts of several states of the Federation of Nigeria by their respective Attorney Generals, and in the Federal High Court by the Attorney-General of the Federation for an aggregate claim of over one Billion dollars.
Mr. Okoli's other specialty is sports law, of which he is a pioneer in Nigeria. Holding a masters (LLM) degree in Sports Law and Practice from De Montfort University, Leicester, England, he was the pioneer General Counsel for Team Nigeria in the early 2000's and continues to advise sports clubs and other sport entities. Mr. Okoli who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN heads the Litigation and Arbitration Practice Group as well as the Sports & Entertainment Law Practice Group in the Firm
Education: University of Jos (LL.B) Honours 1987; University of Lagos (M.Sc Political Science) 2005; De Montfort University, Leicester, UK (LL.M) 2012. Work: Counsel, Ibrahim Haruna & Co 1988-1989;Counsel; Ajumogobia, Okeke, Oyebode & Aluko 1990-1992; Founder and Principal Counsel, Chiji Okoli & Associates 1993-2001; Founding & Senior Partner, Ilo & Okoli 2002-2016.
Miscellaneous: Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, (UK), Notary Public, University of Jos representative in the final rounds of Judge T. Elias International Law Moot Court Competition, 1987; Member, Nigerian Bar Association, Maritime Law Society of Nigeria and Nigerian Society of International Law, Author of several articles on different areas of law including Criminal Liability of Corporations in Nigeria: A Current perspective(1994)J.A.L.Vol.38, No.1p.35(Published by University of London).