Theophilus Ochonogor

Theophilus is a Partner in the Firm’s Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He obtained his LLB (Hons.) degree from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 1994 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in March 1995. He had short stints in law practice at the law firms of Collins Aimuan & Co. and Tony Merah & Co. and gained prolonged and intensive dispute resolution experience at Messrs. Layi Babatunde & Co. and Messrs. Clarke, Paiko & Co. At Messrs. Clarke, Paiko & Co., he was the Head of Chambers for over twelve years before joining Alliance Law Firm as a partner in November 2016.

Theophilus heads a team of lawyers in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group of the Firm. He is a core litigation lawyer, and his responsibilities include advising clients on various aspects of the law, drafting pleadings, writing legal opinions, written addresses, briefs of arguments, and managing tasks assigned to team members. Over the years, Theophilus has acquired a wealth of experience in various fields of law, such as Labour Law, Family Law, Banking, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Oil & Gas Law, General Civil Law, Law of Contracts, Law of Torts, Land Law, etc. In addition, he has developed considerable skills in research, writing, legal drafting, and advocacy. In particular, he is versed in the arts of cross-examination and brief writing.

Theophilus appears regularly at the Federal and State High Courts, National Industrial Court, Investments and Securities Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Worthy of mention is his participation in an international arbitration before the Arbitral Tribunal of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute, Rotterdam, in a case between New Skies Satellites B.V. and Daar Communications Plc.

Some of the cases in which Theophilus was involved and which have been reported in various law reports include the following: Mark v. Abubakar (2009) 2 NWLR (Pt 1124) 79; Mrs. Mudasiru v. Abdullahi (2011) 7 NWLR (Pt 1247) 591; Feed & Food Farms (Nig) Ltd v. NNPC (2009) 6-7 SC 1; Major Bello Mogaji v. The Nigeria Army (2008) 2-3 SC (Pt. II) 146; Senator Ladoja v. INEC & Ors. (2007) 7 SC 99; (2007) 12 NWLR (1047) 119; Senator Ladoja v. INEC & Ors. (2007) 12 NWLR (1047) 97; Ibikunle v. State (2005) 1 NWLR (Pt. 907) 387; Saidu Ahmed & 2 Ors. v. Central Bank of Nigeria (2012) 7 SC (II) 1; (2012) LPELR-9341 (SC); National Population Commission v. Mr. O.O. Williams (2016) LPELR-41492 (CA); Kingsley Ikpe v. FRN (2018) LPELR-45567 (CA); First Bank v. Resort Int’l Ltd (2020) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1718) 391; and Thomas Kingsley Securities Ltd & Anor. v. Securities and Exchange Commission & 9 Ors. (2013) 1 SDJJOJ 6-7 (Selected Dicta and Judgments of Hon. Justice Okechukwu J. Okeke).

In addition to the above cases, other cases which Theophilus conducted and are yet to be reported include: Korean National Oil Corporation & 4 Ors. v. The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria & 5 Ors.; Owel Petroleum Services Nigeria Limited v. Korea National Oil Corporation & 9 Ors.; Mr. Elias Antoun Dahboul v. The Governor of Kano State & 2 Ors.; Alhaji Alhassan Aminu Dantata & Ors. v. Mr. Elias Antoun Dahboul; Apapa Local Government Council v. National Clearing and Forwarding Agency & Anor.; National Clearing and Forwarding Agency & Anor. v. Apapa Local Government Council; and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Marcon Steel Company Limited & Anor.

Theophilus creates time to write on topical legal issues. Some of the articles he authored are:

1. “The Rule of Law and Restriction on Assets of Politically Exposed Persons in Nigeria: Executive Order No. 6 of 2018 in Perspective” published in The Gravitas Review of Business & Property Law, June 2019 Vol. 10 No. 2.
2. “Violations of Proprietary Rights in Nigeria: A Discourse of Courts’ Decisions in Defence of Citizens’ Rights,” published in Mondaq on 20 June 2023.
3. “The Decision in Shittu v. P.A.N Ltd: A Death Knell on Appeals to the Supreme Court Involving Mixed Law and Facts?”, published in Lexology on 28 September 2023.

He has also co-authored a number of articles, which include the following:

1. “The Court of Appeal: Jurisdiction, Rights of Appeal and Procedure,” published in The Gravitas Review of Business & Property Law, March 2020, Vol. 11 No. 1.
2. “Udeogu v. FRN: The Need to Revisit The Provisions of Section 396(7) of ACJA, 2015,” published in The Gravitas Review of Business & Property Law, December 2021 Vol. 12 No. 4.
3. “Breach of Promise of Marriage: A Legal Perspective,” published in Newswire on 12 November 2020.

Apart from law practice, Theophilus is an ordained Minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and holds a post-graduate diploma in Theology from the Redeemed Christian Bible College. He is a mentor to dozens of young lawyers and Christian youths.

● Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (LLB)
● Nigerian Law School (BL)

● Nigerian Bar Association
● International Bar Association