Nigerian Lawyer Leads Firm That Has Produced Six SANs Without Being One

Oghogho Akpata runs a law firm that has produced six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) even though he is not one himself.

The SAN rank is Nigeria's version of the King’s Counsel (KC) or Queen’s Counsel (QC) in the UK. It is the highest rank given to lawyers in Nigeria as a mark of distinction.

This rank is for lawyers who have been on the Nigerian bar for at least 10 years. They must show exceptional skills in advocacy or impressive academic work and make significant contributions to Nigerian law.

Being a SAN comes with special rights in court. This includes the first chance to speak in court and the honor of wearing silk gowns. Outside the courtroom, the title carries a lot of respect.

Mr. Akpata’s situation is surprising to many, especially those outside the legal field. It is unusual in a culture where titles are highly respected.

It is not about not qualifying. As the head of the firm, he creates an environment that helps lawyers, including those he has mentored, to quickly rise to the SAN rank.

According to his profile on Templars’ website, Mr. Akpata has over 30 years of experience in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. His work includes major energy deals, project financing, and disputes with multinational companies.

He started Templars in Lagos in 1995 after working at F.O. Akinrele & Co., according to P.M. EXPRESS. The firm began with four lawyers and has grown in Nigeria and Ghana. Now, it has 157 lawyers, including 28 partners.

The recent SAN rank award to 68 lawyers, with two from Templars, put Mr. Akpata in the spotlight. Many admire his quiet professionalism and low media presence.

While the SAN rank is a significant achievement in law, lawyers like Mr. Akpata show that true excellence is more than just a title.

In the last eight years, Templars has produced six SANs, starting with Adewale Atake in 2018. The others are Godwin Omoaka, Inam Wilson, Olufemi Oyewole, Igonikon Adekunle, and Sadiq Ilegieuno.

Mr. Atake became a SAN in 2018. He began his legal career in his elder brother Eyimofe Atake’s chambers before joining Templars.

In an August 2026 interview with PUNCH, Mr. Eyimofe shared stories of working with his younger brother on Supreme Court cases.

At Templars, Mr. Atake focused on commercial litigation, arbitration, and investment disputes, especially in the energy sector. He leads the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice and has represented international oil companies in major cases against Nigerian government bodies.

One key case involved ExxonMobil and Shell in an arbitration concerning crude oil entitlements against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This case led to an award of over $2 billion for the companies, according to Templars.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) chose Mr. Atake for the SAN rank in 2018. He was sworn in at the Supreme Court in Abuja in September that year.

Another Templars partner, Mr. Omoaka, became a SAN in 2019. The LPPC picked him in July, and he was sworn in at the Supreme Court in September.

Mr. Omoaka studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1997. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in September 1999, according to The Nation.

He started at Muyiwa Obanewa & Co. from 1999 to 2000, then worked at Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe & Belgore from 2001 to 2002. He later joined Templars and became a partner in September 2009, according to the African Arbitration Association.

His work focuses on commercial litigation, oil and gas disputes, arbitration, taxation, and maritime law. He leads Templars’ real estate practice and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK.

Mr. Wilson is another Templars partner who became a SAN in November 2022.

His practice includes labour and employment law, shipping, aviation, and commercial disputes. He is in charge of Templars’ Labour and Employment and Transportation practices. He also deals with corporate investigations and regulatory issues.

Mr. Oyewole reached the SAN rank in September 2025 after 11 years of legal practice, as he shared on LinkedIn.

Mr. Oyewole holds a Master of Law in International Commercial Law from Robert Gordon University in Scotland. He became a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022.

His focus is on commercial litigation, arbitration, corporate investigations, and anti-corruption compliance. One of his notable cases was advising JPMorgan Chase in a legal case with the Federal Republic of Nigeria over payments linked to the sale of Oil Prospecting Licence 245 to Shell and Eni.

Ms. Adekunle is one of the latest Templars partners to gain the SAN rank. She was sworn in on 12 October, along with Sadiq Ilegieuno.

Ms. Adekunle is a commercial litigator and arbitration counsel. She focuses on tax disputes and handles cases in energy, construction, financial services, and environmental sectors.

In one important case, she represented Nigeria LNG Limited in a tax dispute with the Federal Inland Revenue Service over an assessment of about $231 million. The assessment was reduced to around $3.25 million while the appeal was ongoing, according to her Templars profile.

For Mr. Ilegieuno, who was also sworn in as a SAN on 12 October, he studied law at the University of Benin and got a Master of Law from the University of Lagos. He joined Templars in 2005 and became a partner in 2018.

His practice includes commercial litigation, arbitration, energy and environmental disputes, data protection, and regulatory matters. He has represented multinational companies in Nigerian courts and arbitration.

Mr. Akpata praised both for their SAN elevation.

"Igonikon and Sadiq have earned this through years of hard work. Their elevation shows what a firm can achieve when it invests in its people, and we are very proud of them," Templars’ website quoted him.