Kofo Dosekun

Kofo Dosekun is the chairman of the management board of Aluko & Oyebode and leads the firm’s corporate and commercial, banking, and corporate finance practices. She advises on a broad range of financing and commercial transactions, including project finance, cross border and local syndicated lending, private equity, energy, public-private partnerships, and structured trade finance. She also advises on risk mitigation, financial regulatory compliance, foreign investment and derivatives, mergers and acquisitions and restructurings in the energy, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors.

Kofo acted as a lead counsel to MTN in its NGN 200 billion facility from a syndicate of Nigerian banks. She also acted as lead counsel to a syndicate of onshore and offshore lenders in connection with the provision of a USD 2 billion senior secured medium-term financing facility to Aiteo Eastern E&P for the acquisition of a 45 per cent interest in OML 29. She led the team in Nigeria that advised Indorama on the USD 1 billion financing of its fertiliser plant. She also led the team that advised the sponsors in connection with the restructuring of the USD 1.2 billion NGLII financing, and the USD 600 million satellite field oil financing.

Kofo has worked on several award-winning transactions and continues to advise various financial institutions operating in the Nigerian market.

Kofo’s expertise in project finance, mergers and acquisitions has been recognized by prestigious legal directories, over the years. She has been recognised as the leading Lawyer in banking, finance, project finance, mergers & acquisitions and governance.

In the 2020 edition of The Legal 500, she was inducted into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame as the first and only female Lawyer for her work in the banking, finance and capital markets practice.

• Nigerian Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• NBA Section of Business Law

1983: University of London, LL.M.

1981: Called to the Nigerian Bar

1980: University of Ife, Ile-Ife, LL.B. (Hons)

2021 – Date: Chairman, Aluko & Oyebode

2018 – 2020: Managing Partner, Aluko & Oyebode

1996 – 2017: Partner, Aluko & Oyebode

1994 -1995: Assistant General Manager, Credit and Marketing, Citibank Nigeria

1992 – 1993: Assistant General Manager, Corporate Finance & Financial Institutions, Citibank Nigeria

1991 – 1992: Assistant General Manager, Corporate Finance & Treasury, Citibank Nigeria

1984 – 1990: Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Citibank Nigeria

1983 – 1984: Attorney, Debo Akande & Co, Lagos, Nigeria

1980 – 1981: Legal Officer, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Nigeria

• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders – GBRR 2022
• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Global Leader, Project Finance, Banking & Finance 2022
• Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides to the World’s Leading Lawyers
• Who’s Who Legal (WWL): National Leader Recommended for Nigeria – Banking, M&A and Governance and Project Finance 2021
• The Legal 500 Hall of Fame (First and only lawyer in Nigeria to be recognised by The Legal 500 in Banking, Finance, and Capital Markets practice areas)
• Chambers Global 2022 and 2021, Ranked Band 1 in Banking and Finance
• Women in Business Law Award at the inaugural 2020 IFLR Sub-Saharan Africa Awards.
• Global Elite Thought Leader (GBRR 2021) of Who’s Who Legal
• IFLR1000: Market Leader and Highly Regarded Leading Lawyer Recognition

“A standout lawyer for banking matters: She is excellent, diligent and passionate about her work, and insists on good quality.” – Chambers Global

“Kofo Dosekun is very well known in the market” and widely recommended by sources for her impressive expertise in banking and finance matters.” – Who’s Who Legal (WWL)

“Kofo Dosekun is a highly respected figure in the Nigerian market whose practice covers a broad range of lending and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, and project finance issues.”– Who’s Who Legal (WWL)

“She is very confident about her advice based on her vast knowledge and experience, both of which are evident in the quality of her advice. She is also accessible, able to think on her feet and provide relevant practical advice at very short notice.” -IFLR1000

Oil & Gas

• Adviing a syndicate of lenders in connection with the provision of a senior secured medium-term facility (Aiteo USD 2 million financing) to Aiteo Eastern E&P Company for the acquisition of OML 29, was responsible for leading the co-ordination of the condition precedent confirmation process.
• Part of the team advising the sponsors of the two liquefaction trains and related port and marine facilities – Brass LNG Project, on several aspects of the transaction, including the drafting and negotiation of the Gas Supply Agreements etc.
• Advising the Sponsors of the Satellite Field Project (NNPC/ExxonMobil) in connection with the USD 600 million financing of the First Tranche of the Satellite Field Transaction.
• Advising the Sponsors of the NGL II Project (NNPC/ExxonMobil) in connection with the USD 1.2 billion financing of the NGL II Project.
• Acting as sponsors’ counsel in connection with the amendment of the NGL II and Satellite Field Oil Financing Extension (SOFF) finance documents. This transaction was the first forward sale structured transactions in the Nigerian market.
• Advising the borrower and sponsor in connection with the construction of a methanol and fertilizer plant in Rivers State. The project also incorporated a power station, fertilizer plant and gas supply pipelines.
• Advising NNPC & ExxonMobil, the sponsors, in connection with the financing of USD 220 million Natural Gas Liquids II Supplemental Project.
• Advising the borrower in connection with a USD 300 million corporate secured revolving credit facility and a USD 700 million secured term facility and up to USD 700 million accordion facility to be provided to Seplat Petroleum Development Company.
• Advising DNB Nor Bank and Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, the lead arrangers, in connection with a USD 1.8 billion financing of four deep-water drilling vessels.
• Advising a syndicate of Nigerian and international financial institutions in connection with the restructuring of credit facilities provided to a multinational group of companies with a subsidiary operating in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and the potential insolvency of the subsidiary operating in Nigeria.
• Advising a consortium of international commercial banks and Export Credit Agencies (ECA’s) in connection with the USD 1.06 billion financing of the 4th and 5th trains of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Plant Expansion Project (NLNGPlus).
• Led the team that advised Standard Bank and JP Morgan in connection with the provision of aggregate bridge facilities of up to USD 765 million to Heritage Oil and Shoreline Natural Resources for the acquisition of a 45 per cent participating interest held by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Total E&P Nigeria and Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Oil Mining Lease 30.
• Advising the lender in connection with the provision of a USD 160 million facility to Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR) for the acquisition of a 45% interest OML 34 being divested by oil majors Shell Petroleum Development Company, Total Exploration and Production and Nigeria Agip Oil Company.
• Advising a syndicate of Nigerian and international financial institutions in connection with the restructuring of credit facilities provided to a multinational group of companies with a subsidiary operating in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and the potential insolvency of the subsidiary operating in Nigeria.
• Advising BNP Paribas, S.A. in connection with the USD 22 million Term Loan Facility to Dangote Oil & Gas Company and Dangote Industries.
• Heads the team that advises Schlumberger OFS in connection with the applicable regulatory framework within Free Trade Zones in Nigeria in the context of the company’s operations in Lagos (Snake Island and Ladol Free Trade Zones) and in Port-Harcourt (Onne Free Zone).
• Advising Standard Bank, London in connection with the USD 10 million Term Loan Facility to Amni International Petroleum .
• Advising NNPC & ExxonMobil, the sponsors, in connection with USD 20 billion Natural Gas Liquids II Supplemental Project, including drafting and reviewing of the transaction documents, negotiating and reviewing the execution drafts prior to signing, among others.
• Led the team that advised Standard Bank and JP Morgan in connection with the provision of aggregate bridge facilities of up to USD 765 million to Heritage Oil and Shoreline Natural Resources for the acquisition of a 45 per cent participating interest held by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Total E&P Nigeria and Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Oil Mining Lease 30.

Infrastructure and Project Finance

• Led the team that advised IFC in connection with its role as transaction adviser in relation to the development and construction of a specialist referral hospital in one of the South-South States in Nigeria under a PPP arrangement.
• Advising Oriental Food Industry, the borrower, in connection with the provision of up to USD 35 million finance facility under the Sharia principles from the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector in relation to the funding of its development of its processing plant for canned foods and milk products along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
• Core member of the team that advised a syndicate of lenders in connection with the Accugas I and Accugas II transactions. In relation to the Accugas I transaction, the Firm advised Stanbic IBTC Bank and another Nigerian financial institution in connection with a USD 60 million facility provided to Accugas (Accugas I transaction), a special purpose vehicle of Seven Energy International, for the development and construction of a gas pipeline and gas central processing facility in Ikot Abassi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
• Leader of the team that advised the borrower and sponsor in connection with the provision of up to USD 800 million facility granted to Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals by a syndicate of commercial banks and DFI’s, including the Africa Development Bank for the construction of a methanol and fertilizer plant in Rivers State.
• Advising BNP Paribas in connection with the USD 300 million financing and refinancing of the development of an oil field under a production sharing contract.
• Lead counsel to a marginal field operator in connection with the development of the marginal field, including drafting and reviewing the heads of terms agreement, joint operating agreement, technical service agreement, the farm in agreement, the deed of assignment, consent letters and other supporting agreements.
• Lead counsel advising the sponsors in connection with the Lagos State Infrastructure Project for the development and rehabilitation of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Banking & Finance

• Led the team that advised the lenders in connection with the financing provided to OIPL Indorama.
• Advising Oando in connection with debt restructuring (Helios – Vitol consortium), including advising on the overall transaction structure, conducting an extensive legal due diligence investigation on the debt portfolio of Oando and its downstream subsidiaries, and restructuring the existing security package of Oando.The transaction represents one of the largest corporate restructuring in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
• Advising Stanbic IBTC Bank in connection with the USD 12 million credit facility made available to a consortium of property developers to finance the construction of a shopping mall in Abuja, Nigeria.
• Advising Vitol, the lenders, in connection with the USD 25 million term loan facility granted by Vitol to Seven Energy Finance (“SEFL”) and Seven Energy (“SEL”), including reviewing English law governed facility agreement from a Nigerian law perspective, advising Vitol on the Nigerian law issues arising from the facility agreement, drafting the security documents to ensure that the Vitol’s interest is secured under an existing security arrangement.
• Advising Honeywell Flour Mills (“HFMP”), the flagship company of Honeywell Group in connection with the proposed divestment from HFMP, including conducting a detailed sell-side due diligence on HFMP.
• Advising United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited, a Nigerian company established by Holcim Trading S.A., Orascom Construction Industries and Flour Mills of Nigeria in connection with the provision of its USD 275 million re-financing.
• Advising Nederlandse Financierings-MaatschappijVoor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (“FMO”) in connection with the USD 10 million convertible loan made available to Abbey Building Society for the provision of houses for members of the cooperative and funding of mortgages for offtakers.
• Led the team that advised two major oil companies acting as sponsors in connection with a USD 1.5 billion reserves development project by a group of international and local financial institutions.
• Advising a consortium of lenders in connection with the USD 170 million medium term financing of the rehabilitation and revamping of a fertilizer plant in Nigeria.
• Advising DNB or Bank ASA and Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, the lead arrangers, in connection with a USD 1.8 billion financing of four deep-water drilling vessels.
• Lead the team that conducted a legal due diligence in connection with a prospective acquisition of a majority equity stake in a financial services company by a private equity firm and provided a legal due diligence report.
• Led the team acting as Nigerian counsel to Africa Finance Corporation in connection with the USD 78 million term loan and streaming facilities to be granted to Segilola Resources Operating, the borrower, to fund the construction and development of the Segilola gold project in Osun state, Nigeria.
• Advised Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Citibank Nigeria in connection with the provision of up to USD 64.4 million financing to African Tiles and Ceramics Nigeria, the borrower, in relation to its expansion into the manufacturing of tiles and ceramic through the construction of a ceramic tiles plant in Nigeria.
• Led the team that advised China Development Bank in connection with the USD 30 million facility provided to CNG Glass (Nigeria) Fze. by China Development Bank Corporation to finance the production of certain types of glass.
• Led the team that acted for International Finance Corporation (IFC) and ARM Private Equity Fund LP (ARM) in connection with the USD 3.5 million equity investment by IFC, and USD 6 million equity investment by ARM in a mid-sized foods and beverages company.

Private Equity

• Led the team that provided due diligence services in connection with the proposed investment in a cash in transit and cash management services company and its subsidiaries.
• Acting as team lead in connection with the acquisition of a majority equity shareholding in a company engaged in the fast-moving consumer goods industry in Nigeria by Duet Asset Management.
• AdvisingAccess Bank in connection with the acquisition of a 75% equity stake in, and subsequent merger with, Intercontinental Bank.
• Advising Mutual and Federal Insurance Company in connection with the acquisition of a majority equity stake in Oceanic Insurance, the insurance subsidiary of Eco Bank.
• Led the team that conducted a legal due diligence in connection with a prospective acquisition of a majority equity stake in a financial services company by a private equity firm and provided a legal due diligence report.

Technology, Media and Telecommunications

• Advising MTN Nigeria Communications in connection with raising of up to USD 1.873 billion from a syndicated of local and international lenders and export credit agencies of the refinancing of existing debt and other corporate purposes
• Acting as a lead counsel to MTN in connection with its 200 billion naira facility from a syndicate of Nigerian banks.
• Advising MTN in connection with a commercial paper issuance programme of about NGN 100 billion for the purpose of raising running capital.
• Advising MTN Nigeria Communications, the purchaser, in connection with the acquisition of 100% of the entire shareholding of Visafone Communications.
• Advising African Export-Import Bank in connection with the financing of Smile Telecommunications of USD 315 million for its network roll-out and expansion programme in a number of African countries, including Nigeria.

Project Finance

• Advising Lafarge Group in connection with a financing of USD 15 million to a 12.8 MW power plant to be constructed by Ewekoro Power, a subsidiary of Rolls Royce Power Ventures.
• Acting for Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund in connection with a USD 15 million refinancing facility to a Nigeria power company.