Obele Akinniranye

Obele Akinniranye LLB (Hons) (Buck); LL.M (London); BL; ICSA Grad.; Chmrc; CIArb; Notary Public

PARTNER
– Corporate and Project Finance
– Intellectual Property Law
– Infrastructure
– Energy and Power
– Media and Entertainment Practice

Education
– University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
– University of Buckingham, United Kingdom.
– University of London (King’s College), London, United Kingdom.
– Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Nigeria.

Professional Associations
– Member, International Bar Association
– Member, Nigerian Bar Association
– Member, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, England
– Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigerian Branch
– Member, Canadian Chartered Association of Business Administrators
– FIDA

Obele commenced her legal career as a pupil under the pupilage of a seasoned law firm Adeboyega Adeleke and Co, Broad Street Lagos. While under pupilage she understudied and mastered the Art of oratory trial and appeal skills through exposure to various suits handled by the firm as well as developed her company secretarial skill.

Prior to the law school, Obele had obtained a LLB from the University of Buckingham, Buckingham England having excelled and received the prize for the overall best student in the preliminary examinations. She thereafter proceeded to bag a Master Degree with specialty in Corporate and Commercial Law from King’s College London an Inter collegiate member of the University of London England.

Obele having excelled in courses like Law of Natural Resources, Environmental Law, Information Technology Law and Company law relocated back to Nigeria to commence the Bar part 1 and 2 where she excelled thus qualifying as a professional Legal Practitioner.

She has since call to bar in 2002 practiced law as an Associated Counsel with Nemi & Nemi based at Abuloma Road, Port Harcourt Rivers State closely with Ms Alice Lawrence Nemi, A Seasoned Counsel. Member of the bar and presently the Commissioner for Rivers State. At Nemi and Nemi, Obele handled high profile Clienteles such as Air France, Intel, Shell, NAOC and Pellegrin and other foreign clienteles the firm managed.. She thereafter moved to work as company secretary/ legal adviser with a leading telecommunication company based in Lagos known as Mcdorsey Service Company Limited where she handled and advised the company on various complex telecommunication and other ancillary related issues. She was responsible for liaising with the regulatory Bodies such as NCC, CAC to ensure that the company was in line with an internationally accepted corporate standard and was involved in the vetting drafting and review of complex Commercial Agreement on behalf of the company.

As a woman with a passion for law, she, sometime in 2004, moved back to practice law at the renowned law firm of Candide Johnson & Company wherein her strong analytical skills as well research and writing skills were harnessed. Whilst at the firm she worked on several International and Indigenous transactions. She worked closely with the principal partner of the firm on Company law, Banking, Private and Commercial Litigations, Fundamental Human Rights, Admiralty Matter and Land matters.

This singular opportunity gave her the basis foundation to build her career; she became involved not only in the professional legal aspect of representing and advising client but also the Administrative Skill development by her ability to manage personnel reporting to her. Whilst at Candide Johnson & Partners, Obele registered with the Institute of Chartered Secretary and Administration, Alausa Ikeja Lagos which is an affiliate of the London office where she sat for various examinations to qualify as a chartered company secretary. She excelled in those examinations and was awarded the certificate for the Best Student in Corporate Governance for 2004. She was part of a team which pitched for various high profile accounts.

Obele in 2005 co-founded a partnership known as TOM GEORGE & AKINNIRANYE with branches in Lagos and Port-Harcourt with her managing the Lagos branch. The law firm has since grown to have over 10(Ten) lawyers working in their offices. Whilst at Tom George & Akinniranye, Obele was afforded the unique opportunity to nurture the firm based on the knowledge and experience she had developed over the years and as managing partner of the Lagos branch, she was able to move the firm to higher level.

Some of the company and institution represented by Obele while at TGA are Access Bank plc, ABB Soimi, GTBank plc, Union Bank plc, Bank PHB, Mcdorsy Service Company, CityScape Int. Ltd, Collosal Entertainment Associated Ports and Marine (owners and agents of Halroro 1,2 and 3, Telme Mobile phones Nig. Ltd amongst others.

Obele while at Tom George & Akinniranye was involved in a cross section of legal work which include but is not limited to Banking, Finance Company Law Admiralty and Commercial law.

She was involved in the transaction between ABB Soimi and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited for the building of Northern swamp flow station safety upgrade Phase 3 & 4in Warri for Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited. She reviewed and drafted the said Agreement giving the contract and upon dispute between party. She successfully negotiated and resolved the issues.

She was involved in Entertainment law practice where she represents a foremost Nigerian Entertainment Company in a high profile Intellectual property and breach of Contract Suit (Copyright and Trademark Issues.) She challenged the validity of Trademark i.e. Registrar’s refusal to register a mark. The outcome of the suit is still pending.

Obele is a highly inspired lawyer who has a penchant for strategy.

Obele as part of her drive to develop herself in other areas qualified as a Chartered Human Resource Consultant and was awarded a Certificate from the Canadian Chartered Association of Business Administration in November 2007.

In 2007, Obele was involved in preparing the election petition for Labor Party Aspirant for the National Assembly Mrs. Safinatu Mohammed. Obele with a Consortium of lawyer engaged for the purpose of defending the Labor Party Aspirant came up with a formidable defense through advanced legal thought and practice.

Obele was appointed a Notary public in 2008 by the former Chief Justice of Lagos State Hon. Justice Alabi: This appointment which is one given on merit to person of integrity and high repute based on written recommendation from 10 (Ten) Judges of the Lagos State High Court. Obele is particularly humbled to have been found worthy of this appointment.

In recognition of her wealth of experience and her immense contribution towards the growth of legal profession in Nigeria, Obele was appointed by the Honorable Attorney General of the federation in 2008, to represent 15 Indigent inmates in Ikoyi prisons, in a nationwide prison decongestion exercise embarked upon by the Federal Government pf Nigeria. She has successfully defended some of the inmates while the others are still pending in court.

She has rendered a lot of pro bono services to many indigent Nigerians as part of her corporate social responsibilities.

She is a great manager of persons and has great administrative skills. Her ability for analyzing situation and making edge cutting decision is none rivaled.  Her strategy for business continues to develop.

Obele represents a lot of foreign and indigenous Company as Company Secretary and legal adviser and is a member of the Advisory board of STEPS a subsidiary of IFC (World Bank).

Her area of specialty, in her drive to achieve the most prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigerian, is Civil Litigation, Intellectual Property and Oil and Gas. She has presently commenced a PhD Course in Oil & Gas.
Obele is married to Mr. Abiodun Sean Akinniranye and blessed with 3 (Children) 2 daughters and a son.