Lateef Bamidele

|| Certified Ọmọ Ìṣẹ́yìn ||
|| Your versatile Lawyer ||
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[Chelsea Nigeria 🇳🇬 @Chelsea_NGR]

Joao Pedro named Chelsea Men's Player of the Season for 2025/26

After an outstanding debut campaign in which he has struck 20 goals, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has been emphatically voted as our men's Player of the Season by supporters.

[Odujinrin & Adefulu @oduadelaw]

Energy Practice — Lateef Bamidele

This week, we feature Lateef, Senior Associate in our Energy Practice team at Odujinrin & Adefulu — advising on projects and transactions shaping the energy landscape.

#EnergyLaw #MeetTheTeam #OdujinrinAdefulu #AfricaEnergy

[Odujinrin & Adefulu @oduadelaw]

We are pleased to have been recognised in the Legal 500 EMEA 2026 rankings as a Leading Firm in Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, Dispute Resolution, and Energy and Natural Resources. We thank our clients for their continued trust and support.

#OdujinrinAndAdefulu #Legal500

[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

PRESS STATEMENT

THOSE OPPOSED TO THE RESOLUTION OF OPL 245 DISPUTE PURSUING SELFISH, NOT PATRIOTIC INTERESTS

PRESS RELEASE BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE

The attention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to media reports attributed to the Atiku Abubakar Media Office, which contain misrepresentations concerning the recent resolution of disputes associated with the OPL 245 oil block.

In that publication, the former Vice-President sought to downplay what is, by all objective standards, a landmark achievement of the current administration in brokering the settlement of a protracted dispute spanning nearly three decades. It will be recalled that the block was originally awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd (Malabu) in April 1998, revoked in July 2001, and subsequently allocated to Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited (SNUD) in May 2002. These actions gave rise to extensive litigation and public hearings before the National Assembly.

The disputes arising from the revocation and reallocation were eventually addressed through the 2011 Resolution Agreement involving the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Malabu, SNUD (now succeeded by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited – SNEPCo), and Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE)/Eni entities. Under that Agreement, Malabu relinquished all claims and interests in OPL 245 for valuable consideration, while the Federal Government reallocated the block to SNUD (SNEPCo) and NAE as joint license holders. The Agreement also required the Federal Government to convert OPL 245 into an Oil Mining Lease (OML).

Subsequently, the transactions and actions arising from the 2011 Agreement were subjected to rigorous judicial scrutiny in multiple criminal and civil proceedings across jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. These proceedings did not establish any wrongdoing against Eni, SNEPCo, or the transaction as a whole.

Following the conclusion of these litigations, and in light of the Federal Government’s delay in converting OPL 245 into an OML, Eni entities and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited initiated arbitration proceedings against the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). They contended that the delay constituted a breach of Nigeria’s obligations under the Nigeria–Netherlands Bilateral Investment Treaty. As a result, Nigeria faced a potential liability exceeding US$2 billion in damages and associated costs.

It is noteworthy that although the ICSID arbitration, which commenced in 2020, received considerable public attention, none of the stakeholders now being referenced by the former Vice-President participated in those proceedings. The arbitration was not concerned with questions of ownership of Malabu or internal disputes within the company. Rather, it focused strictly on whether Nigeria had wrongfully delayed or refused the conversion of OPL 245 into an OML, and whether such actions breached its treaty obligations to foreign investors. At no point did the individuals now laying claim to interests in Malabu initiate proceedings in that forum, nor did they possess a legal basis to intervene in a dispute centered on sovereign obligations and licensing decisions.

It is also important to highlight that OPL 245, located in deep offshore waters approximately 150 kilometres from Nigeria’s coastline, has long been regarded as one of the country’s most commercially promising hydrocarbon assets. However, for decades, it remained largely undeveloped due to persistent legal and political disputes. The decisive action taken by the current administration is aimed at resolving these long-standing issues, avoiding significant financial exposure, and creating the conditions necessary for the asset to be fully developed and brought into production.

The significance of this development cannot be overstated. OPL 245 is projected to contribute approximately 150,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s oil production capacity. The project is designed around a large-scale floating production system and includes substantial gas export components linked to Nigeria LNG. For decades, OPL 245 symbolized unrealized national potential. The present resolution, achieved under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, transforms it into a viable and bankable development opportunity capable of delivering substantial economic and social benefits, including increased government revenue, enhanced energy security, and renewed investor confidence.

Furthermore, the public should be guided by the most recent and authoritative judicial pronouncement on the matter. In Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited v. Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd (2025) 15 NWLR (Pt 2009) 551, the Court of Appeal dismissed Malabu’s challenge to the allocation of OPL 245 to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, holding that the action was statute-barred and constituted an abuse of court process.

In light of the foregoing, it must be stated unequivocally that the ongoing opposition to this resolution is both revealing and deeply concerning. The persistence of these criticisms, despite clear legal, commercial, and national interest considerations, strongly suggests that they are driven not by patriotism or objective reasoning, but by undisclosed and self-serving interests.

Those advancing such narratives must be understood for what they represent—an attempt to frustrate a lawful and strategic resolution that stands to unlock immense value for the Nigerian people. Their posture is not only misleading but ultimately inimical to the collective interest, as it seeks to deny over 200 million Nigerians the economic and developmental benefits of a critical national asset.

Nigerians should, therefore, view such interventions with the caution they deserve and reject efforts aimed at derailing progress for narrow personal or political gain. The national interest must not be sacrificed on the altar of a hidden agenda.

LATEEF O. FAGBEMI, SAN
ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE

MARCH 25, 2026

[NBASBL @nbasblofficial]

We are proud to introduce the Entertainment and Social Events Subcommittee for the 20th Annual International Business Law Conference.

This dedicated team of professionals will be working to ensure the conference delivers an unparalleled experience as we explore our theme: "Beyond Reforms: Measuring Policy Impact."

🗓️ Date: 8th - 10th June 2026
📍 Venue: Abuja, FCT

Registration opens soon!

#NBASBL2026 #NBASBL #SBLConference2026 #MeasuringImpact #BusinessLaw

[Odujinrin & Adefulu @oduadelaw]

We are proud to be shortlisted for the IFLR Africa Awards 2026 in five categories:

•Deal of the Year – Domestic
•Deal of the Year – Domestic Loans
•Deal of the Year – Projects
•Deal of the Year – Loans
•Team of the Year – Infrastructure (Regional)

#OdujinrinAdefulu

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@CFC_Whizz Just Mount it there

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@Ayoolatosin01 @EKEDP Honestly, the silence is damning. Since last week.

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@InibeheEffiong @legalbreed01 That hospital has to close down, obviously there's no value for human life in their vision and mission. They, therefore, should not exist.

[Inibehe Effiong @InibeheEffiong]

I shed tears of pain two weeks ago, the first time this year. I do not recall crying last year.

My good friend and colleague, Justice John (@legalbreed01), lost his wife, Mrs. Akudo Lovelyn John, in a very questionable circumstance.

I attended their civil wedding a year ago, precisely on Wednesday, 18th December, 2024.

Justice and I have been good friends since we met in the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus.

My friend, Justice, is seeking justice.

Below is the personal account of the tragic death as written by Justice .

THE AGONY OF LOSING MY BELOVED AND NEWLY WEDDED WIFE AT GYNESCOPE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, LEKKI

My wife went to Gynescope Specialist Hospital, Lekki for childbirth and died from mismanaged Primary Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH). The same hospital where she registered and had her antenatal care without any underlying illness.

In her third trimester, during one of the antenatal visits, the Consultant and attending doctor, Dr. Joseph Aliyu Yahaya, disclosed the considerable size of the baby. We raised concerns regarding safe delivery options and the possibility of an elective Cesarean Section (CS) owing to the fetal size. The Consultant dismissed CS and insisted on SVD.

On Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, my wife went into labour. The Consultant performed episiotomy on my her, and our baby was delivered weighing 4.2KG. Immediately after delivery, the consultant left the labour ward and my wife’s episiorrhaphy was done by his subordinate.

My wife complained of a dripping sensation inside her body. After observation, the Consultant noted that the vulva was unusually swollen and the sutures were too tight. The Consultant re-sutured her. After this second procedure, my wife looked lifeless, pale, and unconscious for hours, while the bleeding continued unabated.

The Consultant confirmed she was bleeding internally yet took no active steps in referring or seeking specialist help outside the primary facility. There was a clear 15-hour window between the delivery of our baby and my wife’s eventual passing. Blood transfusion was done without first identifying and repairing the source of bleeding.

At about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, 4th December 2025, my wife complained of discomfort and began convulsing. It is important to note that at this critical moment, no medical personnel were in sight. Minutes after I screamed for help, doctors and nurses arrived from the ground floor. There was notably no oxygen in the ward where my wife was admitted. At this time, I requested for a transfer of my wife to another facility, but the Consultant said no facility would accept her without a pulse. Minutes later, the Consultant then agreed for her to be moved.

MY OBSERVATIONS DURING THE EVACUATION OF MY WIFE

Firstly, the Hospital brought a stretcher without side guards or straps to evacuate my wife. While moving her, she fell off the stretcher onto the hard floor of the tiled walkway on the 3rd floor. (I have challenged the Hospital to release the undoctored CCTV footage of the 3rd floor showing when my wife was being stretched out in the early hours of Thursday, 4th December 2025). I rushed to help lift her back up. The staff seemed confused about whether to use the stairs or elevator, thereby wasting valuable time during such an emergency.

Secondly, upon reaching the ground floor, I expected the ambulance to be positioned at the entrance of the hospital door, ready to receive her. Sadly, the ambulance was stationed about 80 metres away, still covered in a tarpaulin showing no readiness. Only then was the cover removed. When I asked the driver to open the ambulance, I heard the most shocking thing - the keys were with Human Resources (HR) Manager. It took considerable time to retrieve the keys. When the driver finally opened the bus, he stated he needed to connect the battery. Throughout this chaos, my wife lay in the open on a stretcher, unattended and without oxygen.

[Odujinrin & Adefulu @oduadelaw]

We are delighted to share that our Managing Partner, Dr. Adeoye Adefulu, has been named Managing Partner of the Year (Mid-Sized Law Firm Category) at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards. This award is a testament to visionary leadership and excellence.

#LeaderInLaw
#OdujinrinAdefulu

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@TheBlueDodger @SkyKaveh God bless them o, make dem bring money 💰

[Odujinrin & Adefulu @oduadelaw]

We were pleased to host the Leadway Assurance team at our Lagos office for a collaborative session with our Energy Practice Team. The meeting featured insightful discussions on insurance and opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

#LeadwayAssurance
#OdujinrinAdefulu

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@FisayoEsq Happy Birthday, Don Fizzy🎊🎉

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@oduadelaw Congratulations to AMCE

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@JAMBHQ This is outrageous!

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@Adebay0r__ @FabrizioRomano Opolopo Ig*o ti wá ninu blood stream man yan

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@lupainho @FabrizioRomano He's faffing around. If the two teams behind us win, we are back to 6th. If he had won either of Villa or Brighton game, his claim would have been meritorious.

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@utdHarryy @FabrizioRomano No, he wouldn't

[Lateef Bamidele @Lordbammyz]

@holardamolar @FabrizioRomano E no concern us o. He should get his shot together and back to winning ways, we need to play in the UCL