Fabian Ikenna Ajogwu, OFR, SAN (born June 1970), is a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a honorific title that is conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of King ...
,
legal
Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a Socia ...
author, and governance advisor. He is
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
's first
professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...
of
corporate governance
Corporate governance refers to the mechanisms, processes, practices, and relations by which corporations are controlled and operated by their boards of directors, managers, shareholders, and stakeholders.
Definitions
"Corporate governance" may ...
and holds a full professorship with the
Lagos Business School
Lagos Business School (LBS) is the graduate business school of Pan-Atlantic University and is owned by the Pan-Atlantic University Foundation (PAUF), a non-profit foundation registered in Nigeria. LBS was founded by three professionals - Juan Ma ...
,
Pan-Atlantic University
Pan-Atlantic University is a private, non-profit educational institution in Lekki, Lagos State.
Timeline
The university had its origin as the Lagos Business School (LBS), established in 1991. The federal government approved the university ...
, where he has taught continuously since 2000.
Early years and education
Fabian Ikenna Ajogwu, OFR, SAN, FCArb was born on 23 June 1970, at the end of the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, to Dr. Michael Ajogwu, SAN, and Mrs. Caroline Ajogwu. His father, a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a honorific title that is conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of King ...
(K.C. Equivalent), served as the
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
of
Enugu State
Enugu () verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the Igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the so ...
; and his mother retired as a School Principal in Enugu. Ajogwu had his formative education at the
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal and public research university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was Governor-General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963 ...
Primary School, St. Louis School, Kano, and Federal Government College, Kano. An Alumnus of the
Lagos Business School
Lagos Business School (LBS) is the graduate business school of Pan-Atlantic University and is owned by the Pan-Atlantic University Foundation (PAUF), a non-profit foundation registered in Nigeria. LBS was founded by three professionals - Juan Ma ...
and Said Business School of Oxford University, Professor Ajogwu holds a Ph.D. in Law (corporate governance) from the Taylor School of Law,
University of Aberdeen, Scotland; an MBA from the
IESE Business School
IESE Business School is the Catholic Church, Catholic graduate business school of the University of Navarra. It was established in Barcelona in 1958 by Opus Dei. From 1963, in collaboration with Harvard Business School, it offers a two-year Maste ...
, University of Navarra, Barcelona; and Law degrees from the
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal and public research university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was Governor-General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963 ...
and the
University of Lagos
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a Public university, public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria, which was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the education in Nigeria#First generation universities, first generation universities in ...
.
Career
Ajogwu worked at
Kenna Partners, a firm he founded on 28 May 1993, and took Silk at age 39. His contributions to legal jurisprudence include having the courts hold that divestment of oil and gas interests, being interests in natural and collective resources, required the consent of the minister of petroleum resources. He also advocated preserving the rights of persons to challenge inconsistent customs trade tariffs in court and had the court strike down the unfair and unconstitutional provisions of the ''Nigerian Customs & Excise Act''.'';'' and a reinforcement of the rights of the maritime regulator to detain ships for non-seaworthiness''.'' He has served as Honorary Counsel to the
State of Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
in
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
and the Republic of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
in Nigeria.
In 2005, Ajogwu founded the Society for
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance refers to the mechanisms, processes, practices, and relations by which corporations are controlled and operated by their boards of directors, managers, shareholders, and stakeholders.
Definitions
"Corporate governance" may ...
Nigeria, a registered not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of corporate governance and
ethical culture
The Ethical movement (also the Ethical Culture movement, Ethical Humanism, and Ethical Culture) is an ethical, educational, and Religious humanism, religious movement established in 1877 by the academic Felix Adler (professor), Felix Adler (185 ...
in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
.
In 2015, he founded the AIFA Reading Society, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting reading culture, and the Society for Art Collection, with an emphasis on supporting the art and art collection. In 2021, he was elected President of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators and is a Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative West Africa; Henry Crown Global Leadership,
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1949 as the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., but also has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, its original home.
Its stated miss ...
; and the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.
Ajogwu serves on the boards of
Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc (member of Standard Bank Group) and
Guinness Nigeria Plc (Diageo) and was appointed by the Government of Nigeria to serve as the Distinguished Legal Author on the
Council of Legal Education The Council of Legal Education (CLE) was an English supervisory body established by the four Inns of Court to regulate and improve the legal education of barristers within England and Wales.
History
The council was established in 1852 by the Inns o ...
(
Nigerian Law School
The Nigerian Law School is an educational institution set up to provide professional certification to graduates of law. The school was established in Lagos under the Legal Education Act 1962, now Legal Education (Consolidation Etc) Act Cap. L1 ...
) for two terms consecutively between 2010 and 2018. He served as a member of the
General Council of the Bar
The General Council of the Bar, commonly known as the Bar Council, is the representative body for barristers in England and Wales. Established in 1894, the Bar Council is the "approved regulator" of barristers, but delegates its regulatory functi ...
, responsible for the
Nigeria Bar Association. He assisted the
Securities & Exchange Commission
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government, created in the aftermath of the Wall Street crash of 1929. Its primary purpose is to enforce laws against market ma ...
in drafting Nigeria's pioneer Code of Corporate Governance in 2003; chaired the Nigerian Communications Commission Committee on the Corporate Governance Code for the
telecommunications industry
The telecommunications industry within the sector of information and communication technology comprises all telecommunication/ telephone companies and Internet service providers, and plays a crucial role in the evolution of mobile communications ...
2013; and served on the
Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria's Committee on the National Code of Corporate Governance, 2018.
Ajogwu served on the
Governing Council
A personal ordinariate for former Anglicans, shortened as personal ordinariate or Anglican ordinariate,"Bishop Stephen Lopes of the Anglican Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter..." is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church establish ...
of
Pan-Atlantic University
Pan-Atlantic University is a private, non-profit educational institution in Lekki, Lagos State.
Timeline
The university had its origin as the Lagos Business School (LBS), established in 1991. The federal government approved the university ...
, chaired Leap Africa, NES Global, ARM-Harith Infrastructure Fund (Nigeria's pioneer infrastructure fund), chairs Novare Malls Group, chaired the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria Continuing
Legal Education
Legal education is the education of individuals in the principles, practices, and theory of law. It may be undertaken for several reasons, including to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for admission to legal practice in a particular j ...
Committee, and serves on the Body's Ethics Committee.
Books
* Corporate Governance in Nigeria: Law & Practice, (Thomson Reuters, Spain, 2020)
* Fair Hearing, (Thomson Reuters (Legal) Spain, 2020)
* The Law & Practice of Private Equity, (Thomson Reuters (Legal), Spain, 2020)
* Commercial Arbitration in Nigeria: Law & Practice (Thomson Reuters, 2019)
* Decoupling Ownership from Management of Companies: Governance Perspectives in the Pursuit of Profits, (Ceenai Publishers, Lagos, 2015)
* Ship Acquisition & Finance: Law & Practice, (Thomson Reuters, Spain, 2020)
* Law & Society, (CCLD, Lagos, 2013)
* Corporate Governance and Group Dynamics, (CCLD, Lagos, 2013)
* Mergers & Acquisition in Nigeria: Law and Practice, (CCLD, Lagos, 2010)
* Corporate Governance in Nigeria: Law and Practice, (CCLD, Lagos, 2007)
* Outcomes-Based Governance: A Modern Approach to Corporate Governance, (King, Mervyn and Ajogwu, Fabian (2020), Juta Publishing, Johannesburg)
* Oral & Written Advocacy: Law & Practice (Solanke, Folake, and Ajogwu, Fabian (2018), Thomson Reuters (Legal) Spain)
* Collecting Art: A Handbook (Ajogwu, Fabian and Castellote, Jess (2017), Bookcraft & Pan-Atlantic University, Ibadan & Lagos)
* Oral & Written Advocacy: Law & Practice, (Solanke, Folake, and Ajogwu, Fabian (2016), Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos)
* Trade & Investments in Nigeria: Legal & Regulatory Aspects, (Ajogwu, Fabian and Kenna Partners (2015), Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos)
* Petroleum Law & Sustainable Development, (Ajogwu, Fabian and Nliam, Oscar, (2014), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos)
* ''Corporate Governance in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', 2nd Edition, (2020), Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 586 pages, .
** eBook
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* ''Fair Hearing'', (2020), Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 236 pages,
** eBook:''
Thomson Reuters Proview -
* ''The Law & Practice of Private Equity'', (2020) Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 273 pages,
** eBook:''
Thomson Reuters Proview-
* ''Commercial Arbitration in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', 3rd Edition, (2019), Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 668 pages,
** eBook:''
Thomson Reuters Proview -
* ''Decoupling Ownership from Management of Companies: Governance Perspectives in the Pursuit of Profits'', 3rd Edition, (2019) Ceenai Publishers, Lagos, Nigeria, 74 pages,
* ''Ship Acquisition & Finance: Law & Practice'', (2018), Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 255 pages,
** eBook:''
Thomson Reuters Proview -
* ''Ship Acquisition & Finance: Law & Practice'', (2017), Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos, Nigeria, 255 pages,
* ''Mergers & Acquisition in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', 2nd Edition, Centre for Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos, Nigeria, 554 pages,
* ''Law & Society'', (2013), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 326 pages,
** eBook:
* ''Corporate Governance and Group Dynamics'', (2013), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 420 pages,
** eBook:
* ''Commercial Arbitration in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', 2nd Edition, (2013), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 656 pages,
* ''Fair Hearing'', Eds (2010) Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 166 pages,
* ''Mergers & Acquisition in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', Eds. (2009), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 925 pages,
** eBook
* ''Commercial Arbitration in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', Eds. (2009), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 544 pages,
* ''Corporate Governance in Nigeria: Law and Practice'', (2009), Centre for Commercial Law Development (CCLD), Lagos, Nigeria, 491 pages, Eds.
Books co-authored
* ''Outcomes-Based Governance: A Modern Approach to Corporate Governance'', (King, Mervyn and Ajogwu, Fabian) (2020), Juta Publishing, Johannesburg, South Africa,
** eBook: -
* ''Oral & Written Advocacy: Law & Practice'' Solanke, Folake and Ajogwu, Fabian (2018), Thomson Reuters (Legal), Pamplona, Spain, 320 pages,
** eBook: Thomson Reuters Proview -
* ''Brief Insights: A Selection of Milestone Cases'', Ajogwu, Fabian and Kenna Partners (2018), Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos, Nigeria, 363 pages,
* ''Collecting Art: A Handbook'', Ajogwu, Fabian and Castellote, Jess (2017), Bookcraft & Pan-Atlantic University, Ibadan & Lagos, Nigeria, 285 pages,
* ''Oral & Written Advocacy: Law & Practice'', Solanke, Folake and Ajogwu, Fabian (2016), Commercial Law Development Services (CLDS), Lagos, Nigeria, 302 pages,
Selected articles
* Shareholders Activism: Any Added Value to Governance, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 8 No. 1, August 2016, pp 1686 - 1699''
* National Code of Corporate Governance: Private Sector Perspective, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 7 No. 1, April 2015, pp 1360 - 1375''
* Corporate Governance and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act 2011: Matters Arising, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 6. No. 2, August 2014, pp 1065-1083''
* Dealing with Guerilla Tactics in International Arbitration: which tools for Counsel and Arbitrators, ''Dispute Resolution Journal of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Vol. 1, No. 1, Nov. 2014, pp 40-57''
* Public Governance, Public Service, Ethics and Institution Reform: The Inextricable Link, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 5, No. 2, Nov. 2013, pp 874-898''
* Arbitral Awards: Recognition, Enforcement & Challenge, ''Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria, ISSN-2006-957X, Vol. 8, No. 1, Sept 2013, pp 22-54''
* Challenge and Enforcement of Maritime Arbitration Awards, ''Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria'', ''ISSN. 2006-957X, Vol. 7, No. 1, Jul 2012, pp. 1 –16''
* Corporate Governance against the Background of Debt and Equity, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN. 2006-7801, Vol., No.1, pp 696-797''
* Corporate Governance and Board Effectiveness in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 4, No.2, Nov 2012, pp. 628-663''
* Mergers & Acquisitions: Opportunities & Pitfalls, ''Journal of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Vol. 1 No. 1, Oct 2011, 30th Anniversary Edn. pp. 1-35''
* Corporate Governance and Ethics in Nigeria – The Imperatives, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 2. No. 1, Oct 2010, pp. 207-241''
* Corporate Acquisitions and Merger in Nigeria – Thresholds and Considerations, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol. 2. No. 1, Oct 2010, pp. 290-320''
* The Control Factor in the Separation of Ownership and Management of Companies Operating within Groups, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN. 2006-7801, Vol.1 No.2, Jul. 2009, pp. 67 – 86''
* Corporate Control and the Pursuit of Profits, From Agency Theory to Modern Corporate Governance, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol.1 No.2, Jul. 2009, pp. 187-207''
* Enhancing Board Effectiveness through Committees, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol.1 No. 1, Feb. 2009, pp. 1 – 16''
* The Role of the Chairman of the Board, ''Journal of Corporate Governance, ISSN-2006-7801, Vol.1 No. 1, Feb. 2009,'' pp 59 – 66
* Steps in Formal Meditation and Conciliation, ''Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria'', ''ISSN. 2006-957X; Vol. 4, No. 1, pp 54 – 68''
* Stay of Proceedings in Arbitration: The Distinction between a Step to Preserve the Res, and a Step in the Proceedings, ''Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria'', ''ISSN. 2006-957X; Vol. 4, No. 1, pp 14 – 35''
* Dispute Handling and Litigation Management, ''Journal of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria, ISSN. 2006-957X, Vol.3, No. 1, pp 44-48''
* Multi-Jurisdictional Compliance in Cyberspace, ''European Case Clearing House (ECCH), Cranfield University, U.K., Issue No. 28, Spring, pp 14 – 16''
* Making Boards More Effective: The Issue of Independence," ''Lagos Business School Management Review, 2001, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp 38 – 46''
References
External links
Kenna PartnersSociety for Corporate Governance Nigeria
Lagos Court of Arbitration
Pan-Atlantic UniversityMy Legal Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajogwu, Fabian
1970 births
Living people
Igbo lawyers
Litigators
Arbitrators
University of Lagos alumni
University of Nigeria alumni
University of Navarra alumni
Alumni of the University of Aberdeen
Senior advocates of Nigeria
Nigerian philanthropists
Nigerian expatriates in Spain
21st-century Nigerian businesspeople
Academic staff of Pan-Atlantic University
Igbo academics
21st-century lawyers