While six lawyers from his firm have attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oghogho Akpata has built a distinguished legal career without receiving the honour himself.
Akpata, the founder of TEMPLARS, has spent more than three decades in legal practice, particularly in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where his work has covered major transactions, project financing and commercial disputes involving multinational companies.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank, often compared with King’s Counsel in the United Kingdom, is one of the highest distinctions in the Nigerian legal profession, reserved for lawyers recognised for outstanding advocacy, academic contributions or other significant achievements in law.
Recipients enjoy certain professional privileges in court, including the right of first audience, and are permitted to wear silk gowns, making the title a prominent marker of distinction among legal practitioners.
However, Akpata’s career offers a different perspective on professional achievement, as his firm has continued to produce lawyers who attain the rank even though he has not received it himself.
According to information published by TEMPLARS, Akpata has more than 30 years of experience advising clients in the energy sector and other areas of commercial law.
He established the firm in Lagos in 1995 after working at F.O. Akinrele & Co., starting with four lawyers before expanding into a major commercial law practice operating in Nigeria and Ghana.
The firm now has 157 lawyers, including 28 partners, across the two countries, while six of its lawyers have been elevated to the SAN rank over the past eight years.
The first was Adewale Atake, who received the honour in 2018, followed by Godwin Omoaka in 2019, Inam Wilson in 2022, Olufemi Oyewole in 2025, and Igonikon Adekunle and Sadiq Ilegieuno in October 2026.
Atake, who heads TEMPLARS’ dispute resolution practice, specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration and investment disputes, particularly those connected to the energy industry.
One of his notable cases involved arbitration concerning crude oil entitlements between ExxonMobil and Shell, on one side, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, on the other, which resulted in an award exceeding $2bn in favour of the companies, according to TEMPLARS.
Omoaka, who became a SAN in 2019, focuses on commercial litigation, oil and gas disputes, arbitration, taxation and maritime law, while also heading the firm’s real estate practice.
Wilson, elevated in 2022, works across labour and employment law, shipping, aviation and commercial disputes, and leads the firm’s labour and employment and transportation practices.
Employment and Transportation practices
Oyewole attained the rank in September 2025 after 11 years of active legal practice, with experience spanning commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations and anti-corruption compliance.
commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and anti-corruption compliance
His work has included advising JPMorgan Chase in legal proceedings instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria over payments linked to the sale of Oil Prospecting Licence 245 to Shell and Eni.
Adekunle, a commercial litigator and arbitration counsel, was elevated alongside Ilegieuno on October 12, 2026, adding two more SANs to the firm’s ranks.
Her practice includes tax disputes and matters involving the energy, construction, financial services and environmental sectors, while one of her notable cases involved representing Nigeria LNG Limited in a tax dispute with the Federal Inland Revenue Service over an assessment of about $231m.
According to her TEMPLARS profile, the assessment was reduced to approximately $3.25m while the appeal was pending.
Ilegieuno, who joined TEMPLARS in 2005 and became a partner in 2018, specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration, energy and environmental disputes, data protection and regulatory matters.
He studied law at the University of Benin and obtained a Master of Law degree from the University of Lagos, subsequently representing multinational companies before Nigerian courts and arbitral tribunals.
Congratulating Adekunle and Ilegieuno on their elevation, Akpata highlighted the value of sustained professional development within the firm.
“Igonikon and Sadiq have earned this through years of rigour and courage. Their elevation speaks to what a practice becomes when it invests patiently in its people, and we are immensely proud of them,” TEMPLARS’ website quoted him as saying.
Beyond his work at the firm, Akpata has spoken publicly about the development of commercial arbitration, the challenges facing Nigeria’s energy industry and the importance of creating a predictable regulatory environment for investors.
In a 2016 interview with The Lawyer, he discussed the potential of the Lagos Court of Arbitration to strengthen Nigeria’s position as an international dispute-resolution centre, while identifying security, judicial support and hospitality infrastructure as areas requiring improvement.
He also highlighted regulatory uncertainty in the oil and gas industry, particularly delays in renewing oil leases, as a challenge that could undermine investors’ confidence and complicate financing decisions.
His professional profile on TEMPLARS’ website lists recognition from international legal directories, including Chambers Global, which has ranked him as a Senior Statesperson in Projects and Energy.
Akpata’s career therefore combines commercial legal practice, firm-building and the development of senior lawyers whose achievements have earned them one of the profession’s most coveted distinctions.
