Gbenga Oyebode, MFR

Gbenga Oyebode is Of Counsel and co-founder of Aluko & Oyebode, one of Nigeria’s largest integrated law firms, with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

Gbenga was an Associate with White & Case, New York between 1982 and 1983.

Gbenga was educated at the University of Ife (LL.B Honours), and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (LL.M) graduating in 1979 and 1982, respectively. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (admitted June 1980) and an attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of New York State (admitted November 1983). He was conferred Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), by the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (2016) and Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State (2017), and was conferred Doctor of Management Science (Honoris Causa) by Wellspring University, Benin City, Edo State (2021), Nigeria. He is the Chancellor of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Gbenga is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (FCIArb) and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI). He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association (IBA). Gbenga is the past Chairman of the Section of Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Gbenga was conferred with one of Nigeria’s highest honours, the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) in 2000. He received INSEAD’s inaugural International Directors Network (IDN) Recognition Award in 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the IFLR Africa Awards 2022 for his outstanding contributions to Nigerian business law and the Chambers Africa Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 in recognition of his many years at the top of the legal profession in Nigeria and his achievements in his career.

He was Chairman of Access Bank (2005-2015) and Director of MTN Nigeria (2001-2019). He is the Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm Company, Chairman of Nestle Nigeria, Chairman of Lafarge Africa (all listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange), and serves on the board of Socfinaf S.A (listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange). He is also the Chairman of CFAO Nigeria.

Gbenga is the Chairman of Teach for All, New York, and Chairman of the African Philanthropy Forum; Member of the Global Advisory Council of the Africa Leadership Academy, Johannesburg; and Director of jazz at the Lincoln Centre, New York. He is a Member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall, New York; Member of the Board of Trustees of Ford Foundation, New York; Member of the Board of Trustees of the African Center, New York; and Member of the Global Advisory Board, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), New York.

He is a Member of the International Council of Collectors of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio; a Member of the Advisory Board of Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC; and a Member of the International Circle, Amis du Centre Pompidou, Paris.

Gbenga was the cover story of the Forbes Africa magazine’s July 2018 publication headlined: “Lawyer – Investor. Gbenga Oyebode, the new face of business in Africa.”

• Nigerian Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (FCIArb)
• Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI)

2017: Doctor of Laws, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, [Ll.D Honoris Causa]

2016: Doctor of Laws, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti [LL.D Honoris Causa]

2014: Certificate Iin Corporate Governance, INSEAD Fontainebleau, France

2007: Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, MA

1983: Admitted To The New York Bar

1982: University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia [LL.M]

1980: Called To The Nigerian Bar

1979: University Of Ife, Ile-Ife [LL.B Hons]

2020 – Date:  Of Counsel, Aluko & Oyebode

2013 – 2020: Chairman, Aluko & Oyebode

1993 – 2013: Managing Partner, Aluko & Oyebode

1985 – 1992: Partner, Ajumogobia, Okeke, Oyebode and Aluko

1983 – 1985: Gulf Oil Company, Lagos and Houston

1982 – 1983: Associate with White & Case, 14 Wall Street, New York

• Gbenga has been described by IFLR 1000 as highly regarded lawyer and one of Nigeria’s most prominent lawyer.
• Chambers Global referred to Gbenga as a “Consummate deal maker who has received plaudits from clients and peers alike for his corporate expertise.
• The Legal 500 referred to him as a charming and highly professional practitioner offering the highest level of legal services. 

“A specialist in corporate commercial work and is particularly knowledgeable with regard to the telecoms market.” — Chambers Global

“A combination of being a good lawyer and being very commercial”. — Chambers Global 2018

Gbenga has consistently been ranked Band 1 in Banking and Finance, Corporate Commercial, Energy and Natural Resource”. — Chambers Global 2017 through to 2019.

• Gbenga has extensive experience advising several top-tier Nigerian, international and multinational clients on energy and natural resources, project/infrastructure finance, privatisation and telecommunications.
• Advising the clients in connection with the Brass LNG Project, a joint venture between NNPC, TOTAL, Conoco Philips and Agip for the construction of a USD 3.5 billion LNG plant.
• Advising a client in connection with the USD 1.275 billion financing of the Exxon Mobil Natural Gas Liquid II Project.
• Advising a client in connection with the USD 1.06 billion financing of trains four and five of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Expansion Project.
• Advising a client in connection with the implementation of the first private Independent Power Production (“IPP”) Project in Nigeria by a major international electricity corporation.
• Advising a client in connection with the USD 3.5 billion financing of the NNPC and Mobil Producing Unlimited Satellite Oil Field Project.
• Advising an oil and gas company in connection with allegations made by a whistle-blower in respect of unethical practices by some staff members with respect to the company’s production data, including providing a holistic review of existing corporate governance framework; advising on employment related matters, reporting lines, allegations of threats, fiscal incentives by senior managers and the steps to be taken in respect of erring employees; identifying compliance gaps in respect of sector regulations; and providing recommendations in terms of corporate governance practices and mitigants for identified regulatory infractions.