SIR ENAHORO SAM DAKARE LL.M, MICMC (KSJI) and NOTARY PUBLIC OF SUPREMEOF NIGERIA.

He is the founding and lead Partner of the firm. He trained at the University of Benin and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in September 1999 where he excelled with good grades at his Bachelor degree level and his Bar final examinations. Sam holds a Masters of Law (LL.M) degree from the same University.

He commenced his legal career in the chambers of Kola Okeaya Inneh (SAN) & Co in Benin City as an intern and later an associate counsel. He later worked with the firm of I.S.O. Ezeudu & Co. a General Litigation Practice firm in Aba during his Youths service year from where he moved to Port Harcourt office of the firm of Chuks Muoma (SAN) & Associates. Sam, as he is fondly called, joined the firm of Jo. Onodugo & Co in 2001 and he rose to the position of Head of Chambers in 2003, a position which he held until he co founded and joined the firm in 2008.

Sam specializes in general commercial litigation and arbitration matters relating to building and civil engineering consultation, contracts, community settlements, employment and labour relations law, energy, mineral resources and environmental law (including oil industry and quarry operations), Banking and Insurance, Company Law and Board room advise and disputes, insolvency and debt recovery/liquidation, winding up proceedings, takeover and mergers, maritime law and admiralty, property and real estate. He also advises on several aspects of international Economic and trade law, foreign investment, corporate compliance, immigration and related issues like expatriate quota, import permits etc.

Sam’s experience cuts across prosecuting and defending cases in state and federal courts, appellate courts (including the Supreme Court of Nigeria), tribunals and commission of inquiry as well as institutional and ad-hoc arbitral tribunals. An astute advocate and negotiator, he has extensive experience in managing complex, multifaceted disputes involving several parties and claims.

Sam’s cut his legal teeth as litigation head/lead counsel in Jo. Onodugo & Co for almost 7 years and most importantly aided by his lead Partner position in our firm where he managed multifaceted legal/litigation portfolio of several multi national conglomerates operating in the construction, banking, Government agencies like N.N.P.C, P.P.M.C, Port Harcourt Refinery and petrochemical/oil servicing, International and National oil companies and pharmaceutical sectors of Nigeria. These include Total E & P Nigeria Limited current clients to our firm, Shell Petroleum Development Company Of

Nigeria Ltd, Noble Drilling International Cayman Islands, Noble Drilling Nigeria Ltd, Stolt Offshore S.A, Globestar Engineering Nigeria Ltd, Acergy, Botro Marine & Oil Services Ltd FZE, BK Tubulars Nigeria Ltd FZE, Robbond Maritime & Integrated Services Ltd, Baywood Dextron, Mertex Uk Ltd, Brawal Shipping Nigeria Ltd, Brawal Oil Services Ltd Onne Port concessionaire, Total E & P Nigeria Ltd, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Atlantic Fluids & Integrated Services Ltd, Aiico Insurance Plc, Service Medical International SOS (ORES), Trustfund Pensions, 7up Bottling Company, Lonestar Drilling Nigeria Ltd, Raystahl AG Lausanne, Switzerland etc including several other mediation, negotiation and general litigation. Sam has advised on a lot of board room decisions, takeovers, and acted a Liquidator/Manager of some local and foreign divestments in Nigeria and this include Arbitration and advise to both private, government and its agencies on investment options and privatization not forgetting the Nigeria Bar Association etc.

Sam has authored the following amongst other unpublished works:

  1. Company and Banking Frauds in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal”, University of Benin, Benin City, LL.B Long Essay, November, 1997.
  2. Economic migration to Nigeria – Legal options and prospects. (2002).
  3. Enahoro Samuel Dakare, “Current Constitutional Structure of Kenya: A Critical Appraisal”, University of Benin, Benin City, LL.M Seminar paper, September, 2013.
  4. Enahoro Samuel Dakare, “Constitutional Alteration: A Comparative Study of Nigerian and American Constitutions”, University of Benin, Benin City, LL.M Seminar paper, February, 2014.
  5. Enahoro Samuel Dakare, “Sustenance of Democratic Institutions in Nigeria, A Normative Overview”. University of Benin, Benin City, LL.M Compulsory Essay for Masters Degree, May, 2014.

Sam is a Christian, a Knight of St’ John International of the Roman Catholic Church, happily married with three children, widely traveled and speaks fluent English and his native Edo languages. Sam is a registered member of the International Bar Association (IBA 2011-till date), Nigeria Bar Association and Member Section on Business Law and on Legal Practice of the Bar. He is a Member of Legal Advocacy and Response to Drug Initiative (LARDI) a National Pro Bono Lawyers body rendering free legal services to indigent drug arrestees and campaigning against illicit drugs and drug abuse funded and co sponsored by the United Nations and the European Union. Sam is presently our Lead Consultant and Managing Partner.