Ayodele Oni

He has a knack for creating ingenious and effective strategies to ensure the success of transactions he is involved in. Ayodele is also an active leading voice and thought leader in the development of many transformative policy changes in Nigeria, especially in the energy (oil, gas and electric power) sector. Specifically, he has played key roles in developing template documents, rules and regulations, used in the natural gas and electric power sectors.

Ayodele has also been recognized as being “in a league of his own” by the internationally renowned directory, Who’s Who Legal and has also been ranked amongst the World’s leading lawyers in the Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. Ayodele has been actively involved in several oil and gas transactions, including the Shell divestment deals and Chevron’s divestment of interests in a number of oil mining leases. He has also advised and continues to advise on a number of marginal fields transactions (including the year 2020 marginal fields bid round) and several oil and gas acquisition, divestment and financing transactions. 

Ayodele was part of the team that provided legal advisory to the Bureau of Public Enterprises on the post-privatization restructuring of the electric power sector. He has also provided legal, policy and regulatory support to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Furthermore, he has advised the World Bank on electric power sector related issues. Ayodele maintains a seat at the table in the negotiation of almost all major electric power sector transactions in Nigeria and remains key in the negotiation of energy (including refining and pipeline) infrastructure projects and financing transactions, across Nigeria. He has been described as being “responsive and valuable”, is noted for “excellent service” and his “keen work ethic and an unyielding commitment to quality”. He is an adjunct lecturer and author of leading energy texts.