
Partner
Sir Isaac Uche Obi
Isaac is a Partner with expertise in the Firm’s insolvency and general litigation practice. He supports the Firm’s quality control process and continuing legal education programme.
Sir Isaac’s career in the legal profession spans over three decades of active practice and is marked by outstanding accomplishments in various areas of dispute resolution. He founded the law practice, Legal Responses Law Firm, which was eventually merged into Alliance Law Firm. He was formerly the Head of Chambers & Partner at J.K. Gadzama & Partners, Lagos Office, where he successfully managed the office and handled several cases at the High Courts, Tribunals, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. He played a critical role in the struggle to restore the banking license of Savannah Bank Plc. He also played a significant role in the mergers and acquisitions of various insurance companies by industry giants such as Capital Express Insurance Company Ltd., Universal Insurance Company Ltd., among others. Sir Isaac is rated as a Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000.
In arbitration practice, he participated actively in the arbitration between IPCO and NNPC over the Bonny Export Terminal contract, among several other local arbitrations. In offshore arbitration, he was involved in the arbitration between Assemblee Cooperatief U.A. (a Dutch company) and Asset & Resource Management Company Limited – ARM (a Nigerian company), which took place in London, concerning the acquisition of cross-border insurance interests. He was also involved in the Nestoil v. Shell arbitration over the acquisition of an oil mining license, among others.
His experience in insolvency matters has taken him to several mediation fora, including one involving Foodin S.A., a Swiss company, where he recovered staggering sums of money in various denominations. He also participated in a mediation session in London between a Nigerian company and Abbott North Africa Ltd., aimed at resolving a dispute over the purchase of oil well infrastructure, to mention but a few.
In the area of election petitions, he was a member of the legal team that managed the Anambra State Governorship electoral contest between Dr. Chris Ngige and Mr. Peter Obi. He was also involved in the Governorship Election Tribunal in Kebbi State, which concerned the then Governor Bagudu.
Sir Isaac has also made his mark in criminal litigation. He has been involved in several criminal matters—some concluded, and some still pending in court—including:
Oluwapamilerinayo Eniola v. The State of Lagos (CA/LAG/CR/721/2023)
FRN v. Anayo Nwosu (ID/112C/2012)
State of Lagos v. Onuora James (SC/CR/283/2021)
State of Lagos v. Emeka Orisakwe (CA/LAG/CR/955/2023)
FRN v. Dana Group of Companies (ID/23793C/2024)
He also prosecutes criminal matters for government agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Sir Isaac is a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the author of several articles published in reputable international law journals. Some of his publications include:
“Adjournment of proceedings sine die pending appeal: Has the decision of the Supreme Court in Alioke v. Oye & Ors. changed the law?” – published in The Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law, September 2022, Vol. 13, No. 3
“Minimizing delays in post-arbitral award proceedings in Nigeria: A toast to the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023” – published in Journal of Arbitration, Vol. 19, No. 1, July 2024 (Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators)
He is a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, a former Executive Member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, and an Associate Member of the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN). Sir Isaac also belongs to the prestigious Order of the Knighthood of St. Christopher.
- University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo) (LLB)
- Nigeria Law School (BL)
- Nigerian Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Fellow Institute of Management Consultants
- Associate Member, Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN)
- Member, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators
- Legal Drafting and Conveyancing
- Legislative Drafting
- Constitutional Law
- Law of Secured Credits
- Arbitration
- Company Law
- Oil & Gas
- Law of Succession
- Intellectual Property
- Criminal Law
- Banking & International Finance
- Property Law
- Maritime Law
- Family Law
- Labour Law
Some of the cases in which Sir Isaac Obi was involved have been reported in various law reports.
The cases include the following:
● Savannah Bank Plc v. NDIC (2005) 4 FWLR (Pt. 290) 1809 (Court of Appeal) – Challenge of revocation of banking license
● Kachallah v. Banki (2006) 2 FWLR (Pt. 318) 3457 (Supreme Court) – Respondent’s counsel in claim concerning declaration of ownership of land
● Ngige v. Obi (2006) 3 FWLR (Pt. 322) 3938 (Court of Appeal) – Governorship Election Petition for the Petitioner
● Mortgages PHB v. Standard Trust Insurance (2016) NWLR (Court of Appeal)
● Savannah Bank v. Crown Star (2003) LPELR–7164(CA) (Court of Appeal) – Appellant’s counsel in claim anchored on grant of banking facilities
● FAAN v. Autoport (2018) LPELR–46798(CA) (Court of Appeal) – Appellant’s counsel in the claim challenging the actions of FAAN in securing the territorial integrity of the Airport
Unreported Judgments Include:
● Francis Chukwukelo v. Fidelity Bank (CA/L/53/2009) delivered on 26th November, 2020 – Respondent’s counsel in claim relating to the grant of overdraft facilities
● Okechukwu Ibe v. Nnamdi Ibe (SC/344/2010) – Claim anchored on ownership of land
● Deputy Sheriff v. Austin Usiebemhen (CA/LAG/CV/215/2021) – Appellant’s counsel in claim challenging the actions of a receiver/manager appointed by a bank
● Onuoha James v. State of Lagos (CA/L/LAG/CR/722/2020) – Appellant’s counsel in appeal against conviction of rape
Some Pending Cases (Supreme Court)
● Onuoha James v. State of Lagos (SC/CR/283/2021) – Appellant’s counsel in appeal against conviction in charge of rape
● Uzoma Nnaji v. Everest Nnaji (SC/CV/804/2023) – Appellant’s counsel in Matrimonial Causes claim
● Keystone Bank v. Murtala Abdullahi (SC/CV/681/2023) – Appellant’s counsel in the claim against the bank in respect of rejection of allotted shares
● Cajesco Nig. Ltd. v. Afprint Nig. Ltd.
Some Pending Cases (Court of Appeal)
● Guinness v. Unegbu (CA/L/178/2011) – Appellant’s counsel in a claim challenging the annual reports signed by firm of accountants as an auditor
● Ecobank v. Pro M Ltd. (CA/LAG/CV/759/2024) – Appellant’s counsel in claim challenging the actions of a receiver/manager appointed by a bank
● Nestoil v. Abbot Investment North Africa Limited (CA/L/190/2018) – Appellant’s counsel in the claim over controversial acquisition of oil and gas infrastructure
● Gobowen Exploration & Production Limited v. Hercules Maritime Limited (CA/LAG/CV/458/2021) – Appellant’s counsel in claim arising from contract over oil and gas services
● Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) v. Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (CA/L/415/2018) – Appellant’s counsel in the claim concerning the propriety of registering more than one collective society for musical intellectual property
● Savannah Bank of Nigeria PLC v. John Shodipo (CA/L/760/2009) – Appellant’s counsel in claim to title of land
● Novateur Electrical and Digital Systems (Pvt) Ltd. v. Standards Organization of Nigeria (CA/L/5/2015) – Appellant’s counsel in claim to challenge the excesses of certain government agencies
● Oluwapamilerinayo Eniola v. The State of Lagos (CA/LAG/CR/721/2023) – Appellant’s counsel in appeal against the conviction of rape
● Transnational Corporation Nig. PLC v. Tom Iseghohi (CA/LAG/CV/729/2019) – Appellant’s counsel in a claim under contract of employment
● The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Movido Exploration & Production Limited (CA/ABJ/CV/636/2022) – Claim arising from revocation of Oil Mining Lease
● Nestoil v. Nigerian Ports Authority (CA/L/59/2016) – Counsel to Appellant in suit challenging the authority to impose cabotage dues on movement of tugboats on inland waterways
Some States/Federal High Courts Judgments
● Mr. Chidi Henry Amobi v. Mr. Chidi Robert Oboh (FHC/L/CS/1624/2014) – Claim over the ownership structure and shares of a BDC
● Mr. Okechukwu Nsofor v. Babatunde Ogunlana (LD/699/1996) – Claim on interest in real property development
● Cynthia Ifesinachi Aghaeze v. Stephen Chukwudi Aghaeze (WD/81/2012) – Claim for dissolution of marriage
● Novateur Electrical and Digital Systems (Pvt) Ltd. v. Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) (FHC/L/CS/1581/2012) – Challenge of illegal application of powers of government agency
● Afprint Nig. PLC v. Cajesco Nig. Ltd. (ID/1626/2003) – Debt Recovery Suit
● Greengates Specialties Ltd. v. Bank PHB Ltd.
● Matts Dada Chalokwu v. Registered Trustees of DKT Foundation Nigeria (NICN/AWK/10/2017) – Defendant’s counsel in claim against wrongful termination of employment
● Dozzy Oil & Gas v. Nulec Industries PLC (FHC/L/CS/1289/2012) – Defendant’s counsel in the claim for unallotted shares of an investor