About ATIKU JAFAR

• Bachelor of Laws from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (2019)
• Barrister-at-Law from the Nigerian Law School (2021)
• Legal Ethics Short Course Certificate from Fordham University Law School, New York (2019)
• Comparative African Legal Ethics Certification from Fordham University New York in collaboration with White & Case LLP, Ines-Ruhengeri Law School Rwanda and Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (2020)

Atiku Jafar is a transactional attorney with core interests in the legal, regulatory, financial and policy frameworks of the energy industry and a mastery of different approaches to traditional, transitioning and renewable energy sources. Underpinning his power and oil & gas expertise is his industry-based experience and strong business acumen that allows him to deliver tailored solutions beyond clients’ best expectations.

He cut his teeth at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, the legal vehicle for Nigeria’s National Integrated Power Projects, where he provided legal and advisory support to high-value energy transactions across the company’s large portfolio of 10 gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 4000+ megawatts, in addition to gas assets, solar mini-grids and grid infrastructure ranging from transmission lines, substations and distribution infrastructure. He has advised on disputes relating to the 570 million dollars privatization of the Ihobvor open-cycle gas turbine power plant with 507 megawatts capacity and the 415 million dollars privatization of the Egbema NIPP power plant with 338 megawatts capacity.

Jafar has a mastery of the various energy industry contractual regimes, ranging from fuel intake, power offtake, Engineering Procurement & Construction, Power Plant Operations & Maintenance, and other transactions, which makes him fit to assist clients with developing and financing bankable projects across different fuel sources throughout the industry value chain (generation, transmission/transportation, distribution, trading, etc.). His broad outlook of the sector equips him to grasp and handle legal aspects of a project through its entire lifecycle.

In addition to his energy expertise, Jafar is an arbitration specialist having been trained by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and with White & Case LLP. He has the ability to provide pragmatic business solutions to clients for the effective implementation of their business goals. He has significant experience from Nigerian and leading International law firms which makes him fit to provide a comprehensive range of legal services to regulators, projects developers and investors, utilities, financial institutions and other individual and corporate clients across various sectors and industries. He has represented various clients on debt recovery matters and recovered huge sums. He was part of the team that represented the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria involving loan facilities granted to individuals and organisations by the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc.

Jafar is a past National President of the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria and the International Council of the African Law Students’ Association where he organised students and young people to contribute to legal education, foster mutual understanding and promote social responsibility.

His areas of practice and expertise include;

• Energy & Natural Resources
• Power, Utilities and Infrastructure
• Project Development and Finance
• Environment and Climate Change
• Telecommunications
• Arbitration
• Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance
• Financial Services
• Dispute Prevention, Management and Resolution

Professional Affiliations:

• Member, Nigerian Bar Association
• Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK
• Member, International Council for Commercial Arbitration
• Member, Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA)
• Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
• Member, Australian Dispute Resolution Research Network
• YPG Member, Asian International Arbitration Centre
• Young ICCA Member, International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
• YIAG Member, London Court of International Arbitration