THE COMPANY

LAWQUEST is a limited liability company incorporated with the main aim of delivering Continuing Legal Education and Support Services to the legal community and the general public. 

Prior to being incorporated in August 2003, it had been carrying on Continuing Legal Education business under the platform of ALPHAJURIS Workshop Series since 2001.

The Company has recently been appointed Service Provider by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of the Nigerian Bar Association towards Implementing Mandatory Continuing Legal Education for legal practitioners in the country.
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KEY MANAGEMENT PROFILE

CHIJOKE H. ORJI - Chairman

ANYAH KALU-ANYAH - Executive Director (Research & Training). 

MORRIS MORDI - Executive Director (Marketing).

GLORIA TOBIN - Executive Director (Finance & Human Resources)

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHIJOKE H. ORJI

Chairman. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience in corporate law practice.
His vast knowledge and experience in Real Estate Law has contributed largely to the realization of several Real Estate Projects in different parts of the country.

Well known for his ability to co-ordinate large organizations and partnerships.  Under his leadership, the company established its scholarship scheme which to date has recorded more than 780 young lawyers as beneficiaries.  He is also the Chairman of the research and editorial board of JURISCOPE – Law Publications providing practical solutions (over 30 books published since inception).

Mr. Orji had at different times worked with IBRAHIM HARUNA & CO. and OBIOHA JUDE IDIGBE & CO.
He is currently a Managing Partner of ALPHA-JURIS Chambers, a firm of legal practitioners with offices in Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and Port Harcourt.

As a strong member of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, he was the Chairman of the Trade Group on Consumer’s Protection, Compliant and Arbitration.  Mr. Orji is both a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association and has attended several courses locally and internationally.

ANYAH KALU-ANYAH

Executive Director (Research & Training). Holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Buckingham, England (1985) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in October 1986.  He also holds a degree in Business Administration from the Jersey City State College. Jersey City New Jersey (1981).  He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria (2002).
Anyah was at several times a banker with Allstates Trust Bank Ltd., Diamond Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank and lastly Midas Bank Plc respectively.

In September 2002 he became the Managing Solicitor of Anyah Kalu-Anyah and Associates, a firm of Legal Practitioners, Arbitrators, Mediators and Negotiators.  Involved in Insolvency, Oil and Gas, and General Commercial Law Practice.

MORRIS MORDI

Executive Director (Marketing).  A graduate of Calabar Polytechnic and a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.  A Market Analyst with over 18 years experience in Marketing and New Businesses, Good knowledge of Events Management and Logistics.

He joined the firm of Woodywhite Concept as Head, Marketing and was responsible for Market Research and International Procurement.  He joined as Team Leader, Tranter International Limited, Port Harcourt where he handled NLNG and Agip Project Accounts on International Procurement and New Business Development.

GLORIA TOBIN

Executive Director Finance & Human Resources.  A member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), she is widely experienced in the areas of accounting, auditing, taxation and management. 

Since graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in 1991, she has worked with various institutions and in diverse capacities; notable among these are Akintola Williams Deloitte and Touche, a firm of Chartered Accountants of International repute, Schlumberger Nigeria Ltd and Out Consortium and Finance Ltd and is currently the Group Financial Controller of Lawquest Group.

She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

DELE OYE

Director.  A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.  He was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1989.  He Worked in the Legal Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority from 1989 – 1990. 
He later joined PRIME CHAMBERS where he remained until 1991 when he founded DELE OYE & ASSOCIATES, which is an associate firm and business partner of “ALPHA-JURIS”. 

A member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association.  He has served as secretary of the Continuing Leal Education Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch, and also a Vice Chairman of the branch. 

He became Chairman of Abuja Branch of the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ife Alumni Association in 1995, National President of the Association in 2001 and member of Governing Council of the University.

Mr. Oye is currently the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture.

JERRY EDEMEKA

Director.  He obtained his LL.B degree from the University of Calabar in 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992.  He has worked at various times as Associate Counsel in the law firms of Owhonda-Wopara & Co. and Sonny O. Wogu & Associates.

He joined Alpha-Juris Chambers in January, 2000.  He is a member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.  His area of practice includes Litigation and Corporate Tax Management Consultancy.  He is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association.

SASI JAJA

Group Head Research & Publishing.  Mr. Sasi Jaja is a graduate of the University of Calabar where he obtained his LL.B degree in 1998. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001; Mr. Jaja commenced his legal career as a Pupil State Counsel with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice, Lafia before joining Alpha-Juris Chambers in Port Harcourt as a solicitor. He was subsequently transferred to Lawquest Ltd in 2004 as a research assistant.

Apart from legal research and publications, Mr. Jaja is actively involved in creative writing and Christian publications. He has authored two novels under the Lantern Books label and he is the Editor-in-Chief of Ekklesia, a quarterly Christian magazine.

CONSULTANTS

NDUKA IKEYI

Mr. Nduka Ikeyi holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria, graduating in 1990 as the best student of the faculty.  He also holds a Master of Laws degree (with focus on International Business and Economic Law) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Nduka has several years’ experience spanning Academics, Public Service, Litigation and Commercial and Corporate Legal and Business Advisory Services. 

He began his career in academics as a Graduate Assistant at the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, and later as a research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos.

Nduka engaged briefly in active law practice with the firm of G. Elias & Co. among others, before joining Andersen (now KPMG Professional Services) as a Tax and Business Advisor.

He later served as Consultant to the Enugu State Government on Economic and Development Matters on Leave of Absence from Andersen/KPMG (1999 – 2002), and returned to KPMG in 2003. He is presently a partner with Ikeyi, Egudu & Co.

Mr. Ikeyi has advised on several Foreign Investment, Tax, Business/Corporate Structuring/Re-organisation matters. He has also published articles in local and international journals on commercial and business law, especially in the areas of Taxation, Arbitration, Corporate Governance, Foreign Investment Regulation and Technology Transfer.  Nduka has also been engaged as speaker at various seminars and workshops.

Mr. Ikeyi is a member of:

1. The Nigerian Bar Association.
2. The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
3. Society for Advanced Legal Studies, London.
4. An Honorary Fellow of the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria, among other professional associations.

Mr. Ikeyi is presently the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

KEMELA OKARA

Kemela Okara graduated at Law with an LL.B (Hons.) from Middlesex University, London and was called to the Bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, England and Wales, in 1989. He was enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the same year.

In his over 15 years standing at the bar, Mr. Okara has been actively involved in various aspects of Commercial and Corporate Law Practice. With core competence in Corporate Restructuring, Capital Markets and ADR, he has severally conducted due diligence and advised on Merger Transactions involving public and private companies and has also acted as a Solicitor to Public Issues and to companies engaged in various forms of financing on the Nigerian Capital Market.

He has participated in the following transactions

:

	Acted for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 2000 in the privatization and sale of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) to a foreign core investor, SCANCEM.
	Acted for Deutch Telecom in the conduct of due diligence on NITEL prior to the bid for NITEL in 2001.
	Acted for Emperion Denmark, an Enterprise Solutions Service Provider and VSAT Based Broadband Solutions Company in the acquisition of a Nigerian company in 2002.
	Acted for SOLGAS in its bid for a Federal Government Concession under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Power & Steel and the BPE, to run the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, in 2003.
	Currently acting for a consortium of investors in conducting due diligence in their bid to buy majority shareholding in the Leasing and Power Engineering subsidiaries of a listed Nigerian conglomerate.

                               
Mr. Okara has attended courses under the following aegis:

He has also done papers at the following fora:

Mr. Okara’s work experience spans the following establishments:

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  	George Etomi & Partners (Solicitor & Advocate),  1989-1993
  	Irukwu, Ayanru, Okara (Partner),1993-1994
  	Center for World Missions (Administrator), 1994-1997
  	Universal Finance and Investment Limited, London (Chief Executive Officer), 1997-1999
  	Employment Service (Administrative Officer), 1999-2000
  	George Etomi & Partners (Managing Partner), 2001-2004
  	Okara & Associates
  	KöHN Associates

He is the Social Welfare Secretary of the Capital Market Solicitors’ Association, Member of the International Law Firms Network, the International Bar Association and the Working Committee of the Section on Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association.

 
GERALDINE E. OKU

Geraldine Oku obtained her Bachelor’s (LL.B) and Master’s (LL.M) degrees at the University of Buckingham and the University of London respectively. She subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School where she obtained a B.L (Hons) and was called to the Nigerian bar.

Ms. Oku cut her teeth in legal practice in the firm of Lovell, Whyte & King. She subsequently took up appointment with the University of Calabar as a lecturer-at-law.

After five years, Ms. Geraldine Oku joined the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc as a Legal Officer. She further developed a corporate career in banking and, at various times, became the Corporate Secretary/General Counsel in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Societe Bancarie Nigeria Limited, Diamond Bank Limited and Platinum Bank Limited.

AWA U. KALU ESQ. SAN

Mr. Awa U. Kalu trained in law at the University of Ife and did his graduate programme in University of Lagos.  He then enrolled as Barrister & Solicitor in the Supreme Court in 1978.  During the period, Awa won several prizes including the justice Olu Ayoola prize, the justice Charles Macmillan prize and the Irving & Bonner Scholarship.

Mr. Awa Kalu was at several times a lecturer-in-law with the University of Lagos and the Imo State University.  He was severally a Special Assistant to the then Honourable Attorneys-General (Prince Bola Ajibola & Clement Akpamgbo, Esq).

In 1999, he became the Honourable Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice Abia State a position he held till March 2005.

Mr. Kalu has been a member of the Council for Legal Education and the body of benchers. 

He has authored several learned articles, edited several books and journals including “Lawyer Bi- Annual” and “Nigerian Lawyer”.

PROFESSOR TAOFEEQ ABDULRAZAQ

Professor Taofeeq Abdulrazaq obtained a first degree – Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979.  In 1980 he was called to the Nigerian bar after obtaining his B.L (Hons) from the Nigerian Law School.

Taofeeq proceeded to become a Master of Laws (LL.M) at the London School of Economics & Political Science, University of London, UK in 1982.  In 1986, he became an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (AMNIM), and in 1991 a Doctor of Philosophy in Laws (Ph.D) of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Prof. is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCT), 1992, an Associate Member of the Institute of personnel Management (AOPM), 1994 and fellow of the London Chartered Institute of Bankers (ECIB) 1998.

A scholar & author, Taofeeq Abdulrazaq has published severally on Tax Law and related matters.  He has variously been Dean of Law, University of Ilorin, Professor of Business and Tax Laws, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Registrar & Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser to various banks & corporate institutions.

He was a local consultant for the assessment of the Lagos State Tax Policy with the DFID in April 2005, an examiner for the FIRS Tax Inspectors Examination in June 2005, a member of the Editional Team for the World Bank (Lagos State Procurement) Policy in 2003, and lead examiner at the Chartered Institute of Taxation.  In addition, Prof. Abdulrazaq has acted in several tax roles for the private sector in areas of tax complacence, tax management and tax planning.

SUBSIDIARIES

	This is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawquest Limited located at our company owned property in Port-Harcourt. Equipped with ultra modern printing machines, it was set up to meet the printing needs of Lawquest as well as other publishers.  In the near future it will be expanded to a fully integrated press that can handle all types of printing jobs.
	LAWQUEST SUPPORT SERVICES LIMITED: This is a company set up to carter for the employment needs of lawyers.  When fully operational it will not only take over the management of the “ENHANCED ASSOCIATESHIP SHCEME” but will also serve as information exchange for both lawyers looking for employment and employers looking for lawyers to employ.
	LAWQUEST PROPERTIES LIMITED: This is a company set up to provide Consulting/Nominee Services in the Real Estate Sub-Sector of the economy.  Through its nominee and trust scheme, investors are brought together to invest in viable Real Estate Projects across the country. It is planned that in the future the company will take over the Lawcenta Scheme and provide purpose built office accommodation for lawyers nationwide.
	SEEGOL Properties and Investment Company Limited This is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawquest Properties Limited set up to engage in bulk Real Estate Projects nationwide. Among other completed projects, SEEGOL in collaboration with some financial institutions and SPDC Cooperative Societies, is currently pursuing the development of additional 96 units of semi-detached duplexes at Trinity Gardens, Port-Harcourt having earlier completed 55 units, and all works on most of the infrastructure (2.2 kilometers road, electrical rectification, drainage and fencing of the entire estate of 44 acres of land). Also in collaboration with Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Housing, SEEGOL is about to commence the development of 368 houses on 20.44 hectares of land at the Lekki Scheme III, Abijo, along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos State
RELATED ORGANISATIONS
	Alpha-Juris is a law firm co-founded by the Chairman of Lawquest Limited. The firm offers Legal Services to the Company, its subsidiaries and related organizations.
	This is a Non-Governmental Organisation solely financed by the group to provide free legal services to less privileged members of the society who cannot afford to pay for the services of lawyers.  Part of its goals is to also provide basic legal and essential multidisciplinary knowledge to Artisans all across the country.   To actualize its set goals the foundation is currently setting up a network of lawyers in all the geo-political zones of the country. The foundation is currently collaborating with Minergy Capital Resources Limited in providing consultancy services to Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria.   When fully operational, the foundation intends to embark on wide scale nationwide consumers protection advocacy using its network of lawyers.