What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

The Legal team handled the legal and regulatory work plan in respect of the listing of the Shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), making GTCO the first financial Institution in West Africa to achieve a dual listing of its shares on the LSE and its local Exchange (Nigerian Exchange Limited).

The team coordinated and provided legal and supervisory oversight over arbitration proceedings at the London Court of International Arbitration in respect of a dispute with minority shareholders in its Kenyan Banking Subsidiary, leading to savings of over US$20 m. in claims against the Group.

The team facilitated the recovery over US$50 m. in criticised Assets for the banking subsidiary.

What role does corporate counsel play in strengthening corporate governance in light of Nigeria’s recent reforms and stakeholder expectations?

The General Counsel continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Corporate Governance, and this is reflected in the Corporate Governance assessment of the external consultants’ which has put the company and the banking subsidiary (Guaranty Trust Bank Limited) at the highest level of Corporate Governance for the past four years reflecting strong alignment with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance, applicable Central Bank of Nigeria and Securities and Exchange Commission Corporate Governance Guidelines, and international best practices.

What strategies has your legal team adopted to manage disputes and mitigate risks in Nigeria’s dynamic business environment?

The team places strong emphasis on preventive legal strategies, including robust transaction structuring, clear approval frameworks, disciplined disclosure controls, and early identification of regulatory or conflict related risks. Transactions involving heightened sensitivity are escalated appropriately, with careful consideration of regulatory, shareholder, and reputational implications.

External counsels are engaged selectively on complex matters, with the legal team retaining close oversight of strategy, cost, and execution. Lessons learned are incorporated into internal policies, templates, and governance processes to strengthen future risk management.